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Sir George Scharf

(1820-1895), Artist and art historian; first Director and later trustee of the National Portrait Gallery

Sitter in 79 portraits
Artist associated with 588 portraits
Artist and art historian; appointed first Secretary of the National Portrait Gallery in 1857 and Director in 1882. Scharf studied art under his father, the draughtsman and lithographer George Scharf, before entering the Royal Academy Schools in 1838. In the 1840s Scharf was twice commissioned as a draughtsman to travel to Asia Minor and, in the late 1840s and early 1850s, established himself as a leading book illustrator. Scharf devoted nearly 40 years to researching and identifying authentic portraits of significant historical figures and became an authority on portraiture.

More on Scharf: Sir George Scharf sketchbooks

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Frederick V, King of Denmark, by Sir George Scharf, after  Unknown artist - NPG D21251

Frederick V, King of Denmark

by Sir George Scharf, after Unknown artist
pen and ink, 1877
NPG D21251

Augustus Keppel, Viscount Keppel, by Sir George Scharf, after  Unknown artist - NPG D21664

Augustus Keppel, Viscount Keppel

by Sir George Scharf, after Unknown artist
pencil, pen and ink, 21 February 1877
NPG D21664

Mary, Queen of Scots, by Sir George Scharf, after  Unknown artist - NPG D20918

Mary, Queen of Scots

by Sir George Scharf, after Unknown artist
pencil on tracing paper, 1880s?
NPG D20918

Unknown man with his wife, by Sir George Scharf, after  Hans Holbein the Younger - NPG D6615

Unknown man with his wife

by Sir George Scharf, after Hans Holbein the Younger
pencil, 1895
NPG D6615

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