Ellen Terry
(1847-1928), ActressDame Ellen Alice Terry
Later Victorian Portraits Catalogue Entry
Sitter in 205 portraits
Born in Coventry where her actor parents were on tour. Terry was one of eleven siblings and won fame as a child first appearing on stage in 1856 with Charles Kean. Married the painter G.F. Watts in 1864 but separated within a year. Terry had two children by the architect Edward Godwin, Edith Craig and Edward Gordon Craig. Returned to stage in 1872 to establish herself as a leading actress with the Bancroft's and John Hare's company. She performed her most memorable roles under the management of Henry Irving with whom she undertook provincial tours and toured America seven times. In later life she continued to act but also produced plays, lectured and wrote.
by George Frederic Watts
oil on strawboard mounted on Gatorfoam, 1864
NPG 5048
by George Frederic Watts
oil on canvas, circa 1864-1865
NPG 2274
by Sir Johnston Forbes-Robertson
oil on canvas, 1876
NPG 3789
replica by John Singer Sargent
oil on canvas, 1906, based on a work of 1889
NPG 2273
The Royal Academy Conversazione, 1891
by George Henry Grenville Manton
pen, ink and gouache, 1891
NPG 2820
by James Ferrier Pryde
oil and varnish on card laid on board, circa 1894
NPG 6568
by Walford Graham Robertson
oil on canvas, 1923
NPG 3132
by Cyril Roberts
charcoal and bodycolour, 1923
NPG 3662
Charles John Kean; Ellen Terry as Leontes and Mamillius in 'The Winter's Tale'
by Martin Laroche (William Henry Silvester)
salt print, 26 April 1856
NPG x7954
Ellen Terry as Desdemona in 'Othello'
by Southwell Brothers
albumen carte-de-visite, 1863
NPG x16990
by London Stereoscopic & Photographic Company
albumen print, 11 May 1867
NPG x18489
Ellen Terry as Philippa Chester in 'The Wandering Heir'
by London Stereoscopic & Photographic Company
albumen carte-de-visite, 1874
NPG Ax18156
Ellen Terry as Philippa Chester in 'The Wandering Heir'
by London Stereoscopic & Photographic Company
albumen carte-de-visite, 1874
NPG Ax18157
Ellen Terry as Philippa Chester in 'The Wandering Heir'
by London Stereoscopic & Photographic Company
albumen carte-de-visite, 1874
On display in Room 22 on Floor 2 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG x197559
after Lock & Whitfield, and Unknown photographers
woodburytype, published 1875
NPG x135885
by Window & Grove
woodburytype, 1876
NPG Ax7600
Ellen Terry as Olivia in 'Olivia'
by Window & Grove
albumen cabinet card, 1878
NPG x16986
Ellen Terry as Olivia in 'Olivia'
by Window & Grove
albumen cabinet card, 1878
NPG x16987
Ellen Terry as Ophelia in 'Hamlet'
by Window & Grove
albumen cabinet card, circa 1878
NPG x16971
Ellen Terry as Ophelia in 'Hamlet'
by Window & Grove
albumen cabinet card cropped to carte-de-visite size, circa 1878
NPG x16976
Ellen Terry as Olivia in 'Olivia'
by Window & Grove
platinum print, 1878, published 1906
NPG Ax131300
Ellen Terry as Ophelia in 'Hamlet'
by Window & Grove
platinum print, 1878, published 1906
NPG Ax131301
by Lock & Whitfield, published by Wyman & Sons
woodburytype, published 1 August 1878
NPG Ax28262
by Lock & Whitfield
woodburytype, published 1 August 1878
NPG x26807
Ellen Terry as Ophelia in 'Hamlet'
by Window & Grove
matte bromide postcard print, (circa 1878)
NPG Ax160172
Ellen Terry as Portia in 'The Merchant of Venice'
by Window & Grove
albumen cabinet card, 1879
NPG x16988
Ellen Terry as Portia in 'The Merchant of Venice'
by Window & Grove, published by Rotary Photographic Co Ltd
bromide postcard print, 1879; published 1900s
NPG x16989
Ellen Terry as Portia in 'The Merchant of Venice'
by Window & Grove
platinum print, 1879, published 1906
NPG Ax131302
Ellen Terry as Queen Henrietta Maria in 'Charles I'
by Window & Grove
platinum print, 1879, published 1906
NPG Ax131316
by Window & Grove, published by Hardwicke & Bogue
woodburytype, published 1879
NPG Ax45744
Ellen Terry as Portia in 'The Merchant of Venice'
by Window & Grove
woodburytype, 1879
NPG Ax7705
by London Stereoscopic & Photographic Company
albumen carte-de-visite, 1879
NPG x197168
Ellen Terry as Queen Henrietta Maria in 'Charles I'
by Window & Grove
albumen cabinet card, 1879
NPG x197416
Ellen Terry as Portia in 'The Merchant of Venice'
by Window & Grove, published by J. Beagles & Co
bromide postcard print, 1879; published 1900s
NPG x197943
by Alexander Bassano
bromide print, (1880)
NPG x85758
by Alexander Bassano
bromide print, (1880)
NPG x85759
by Alexander Bassano
bromide print, (1880)
NPG x85760
Ellen Terry as Iolanthe in 'Iolanthe'
by Window & Grove
platinum print, 1880, published 1906
NPG Ax131303
by London Stereoscopic & Photographic Company
albumen cabinet card, 1880s
NPG x26803
by Alexander Bassano
woodburytype, 1880
NPG x26806
by James Notman
albumen cabinet card, 1880s
NPG x197395
by Napoleon Sarony
albumen cabinet card, 1880s
NPG x197396
by Napoleon Sarony
albumen cabinet card, 1880s
NPG x197412
published by Rotary Photographic Co Ltd
bromide postcard print, 1880s?; published circa 1906
NPG x197938
by Alexander Bassano
half-plate glass negative, 1880
NPG x96389
by Alexander Bassano
half-plate glass negative, 1880
NPG x96390
by Alexander Bassano
half-plate glass negative, 1880
NPG x96391
Ellen Terry as Letitia Hardy in 'The Belle's Strategem'
by Window & Grove
albumen cabinet card, circa 1881
NPG x16975
Ellen Terry as Camma in 'The Cup'
by Window & Grove
platinum print, 1881, published 1906
NPG Ax131304
Ellen Terry as Letitia Hardy in 'The Belle's Strategem'
by Window & Grove
platinum print, 1881, published 1906
NPG Ax131305
Ellen Terry as Letitia Hardy in 'The Belle's Strategem'
by Window & Grove
matte bromide postcard print, 1881
NPG Ax160171
Ellen Terry as Letitia Hardy in 'The Belle's Strategem'
by Window & Grove
matte bromide postcard print, 1881
NPG Ax160173
Ellen Terry as Camma in 'The Cup'
by Window & Grove
albumen cabinet card, 1881
NPG x199039
Ellen Terry as Beatrice in 'Much Ado About Nothing'
by Window & Grove
albumen cabinet card, 1882
NPG x16979
Ellen Terry as Beatrice in 'Much Ado About Nothing'
by Window & Grove
albumen cabinet card, 1882
NPG x16981
Ellen Terry as Beatrice in 'Much Ado About Nothing'
by Window & Grove
albumen cabinet card, 1882
NPG x16982
Ellen Terry as Juliet in 'Romeo and Juliet'
by Window & Grove
platinum print, 1882, published 1906
NPG Ax131306
Ellen Terry as Beatrice in 'Much Ado About Nothing'
by Window & Grove
platinum print, 1882, published 1906
NPG Ax131307
Ellen Terry as Beatrice in 'Much Ado About Nothing'
after Window & Grove
albumen cabinet card, 1882
NPG x26808
Related People
- James Carew (husband)
- Edith Ailsa Geraldine Craig (daughter)
- (Edward Henry) Gordon Craig (son)
- David Lees (grandson)
- Marion Bessie Terry (sister)
- George Frederic Watts (husband)
Comments back to top
We are currently unable to accept new comments, but any past comments are available to read below.
If you need information from us, please use our Archive enquiry service . Please note that we cannot provide valuations. You can buy a print or greeting card of most illustrated portraits. Select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Buy a Print button. Prices start at around £6 for unframed prints, £16 for framed prints. If you wish to license an image, select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Use this image button, or contact our Rights and Images service. We digitise over 8,000 portraits a year and we cannot guarantee being able to digitise images that are not already scheduled.