Search the Collection

George Bernard Shaw

(1856-1950), Playwright

Sitter in 148 portraits
Artist associated with 8 portraits
The foremost playwright of his generation; also a noted critic of the arts, socialist and member of the Fabian Society. Shaw's influence was felt widely in politics and society. During his early career he wrote important musical and dramatic criticism, introduced the British public to the work of Ibsen and wrote some of his best plays. Successful seasons at the Royal Court Theatre (1904-7) established his reputation, and many of his plays, notably Major Barbara (1905) and Pygmalion (1914), later achieved popularity as films. He was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1925.

More on George Bernard Shaw: Explore the portrait of George Bernard Shaw by Jacob Epstein (NPG 4047) from all angles

1 Like voting
is closed

Thanks for Liking

Please Like other favourites!
If they inspire you please support our work.

Make a donation Close

List Thumbnail

George Bernard Shaw, by Augustus John - NPG 6972

George Bernard Shaw

by Augustus John
pencil, circa 1915
NPG 6972

George Bernard Shaw, by Alfred Eisenstaedt - NPG P2027

George Bernard Shaw

by Alfred Eisenstaedt
bromide print, 1932
NPG P2027

George Bernard Shaw, by Jacob Epstein - NPG 4047

George Bernard Shaw

by Jacob Epstein
bronze bust, 1934
On display in Room 24 on Floor 2 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG 4047

George Bernard Shaw, by Yousuf Karsh - NPG P490(69)

George Bernard Shaw

by Yousuf Karsh
bromide print, 1943
NPG P490(69)

George Bernard Shaw, by Yousuf Karsh - NPG P490(70)

George Bernard Shaw

by Yousuf Karsh
bromide print, 1943
NPG P490(70)

George Bernard Shaw, by Clare Winsten (Clara Birnberg) - NPG 6891

George Bernard Shaw

by Clare Winsten (Clara Birnberg)
pencil on paper laid on board, 1949
NPG 6891

George Bernard Shaw, by Sir Emery Walker - NPG x19645

George Bernard Shaw

by Sir Emery Walker
quarter-plate glass negative, 1888
NPG x19645

George Bernard Shaw, by Sir Emery Walker - NPG x19648

George Bernard Shaw

by Sir Emery Walker
half-plate glass negative, 1888
NPG x19648

George Bernard Shaw, by Sir Emery Walker - NPG x19646

George Bernard Shaw

by Sir Emery Walker
quarter-plate glass negative, 1888
NPG x19646

George Bernard Shaw, by Sir Emery Walker - NPG x19649

George Bernard Shaw

by Sir Emery Walker
half-plate glass negative, 1891
NPG x19649

George Bernard Shaw, by Sir Emery Walker - NPG x19671

George Bernard Shaw

by Sir Emery Walker
half-plate glass negative, 1891
NPG x19671

George Bernard Shaw, by Sir Emery Walker - NPG x19672

George Bernard Shaw

by Sir Emery Walker
half-plate glass negative, 1891
NPG x19672

George Bernard Shaw, by Sir Emery Walker - NPG x19673

George Bernard Shaw

by Sir Emery Walker
half-plate glass negative, 1891
NPG x19673

George Bernard Shaw, by Sir Emery Walker - NPG x19674

George Bernard Shaw

by Sir Emery Walker
half-plate glass negative, 1891
NPG x19674

George Bernard Shaw, by Sir Emery Walker - NPG x19675

George Bernard Shaw

by Sir Emery Walker
half-plate glass negative, 1891
NPG x19675

George Bernard Shaw, by Sir Emery Walker - NPG x19676

George Bernard Shaw

by Sir Emery Walker
half-plate glass negative, 1891
NPG x19676

George Bernard Shaw, by Sir Emery Walker - NPG x19677

George Bernard Shaw

by Sir Emery Walker
half-plate glass negative, 1891
NPG x19677

George Bernard Shaw, by Sir Emery Walker - NPG x134704

George Bernard Shaw

by Sir Emery Walker
whole-plate glass copy negative, July 1891
NPG x134704

George Bernard Shaw, by W. & D. Downey, published by  Cassell & Company, Ltd - NPG Ax16166

George Bernard Shaw

by W. & D. Downey, published by Cassell & Company, Ltd
carbon print, published 1893
NPG Ax16166

George Bernard Shaw; Charlotte Shaw (née Payne-Townshend), by Foulsham & Banfield - NPG x136852

George Bernard Shaw; Charlotte Shaw (née Payne-Townshend)

by Foulsham & Banfield
halftone reproduction tear sheet, published 12 March 1902
NPG x136852

George Bernard Shaw, by Alvin Langdon Coburn - NPG x87256

George Bernard Shaw

by Alvin Langdon Coburn
photogravure, 1 August 1904
NPG x87256

George Bernard Shaw, by Alvin Langdon Coburn - NPG Ax7768

George Bernard Shaw

by Alvin Langdon Coburn
photogravure, 1 August 1904
NPG Ax7768

Harley Granville-Barker; George Bernard Shaw; Charlotte Shaw (née Payne-Townshend), by George Bernard Shaw, and by  Harley Granville-Barker - NPG x126440

Harley Granville-Barker; George Bernard Shaw; Charlotte Shaw (née Payne-Townshend)

by George Bernard Shaw, and by Harley Granville-Barker
album page with six platinotype snapshot prints, 1904
NPG x126440

George Bernard Shaw, probably by Sydney Haldane Olivier, 1st Baron Olivier - NPG x131330

George Bernard Shaw

probably by Sydney Haldane Olivier, 1st Baron Olivier
vintage snapshot print, 1911-1912
NPG x131330

George Bernard Shaw, probably by Sydney Haldane Olivier, 1st Baron Olivier - NPG x131331

George Bernard Shaw

probably by Sydney Haldane Olivier, 1st Baron Olivier
vintage snapshot print, 1911-1912
NPG x131331

George Bernard Shaw, probably by Sydney Haldane Olivier, 1st Baron Olivier - NPG x131332

George Bernard Shaw

probably by Sydney Haldane Olivier, 1st Baron Olivier
vintage snapshot print, 1911-1912
NPG x131332

George Bernard Shaw, by Lizzie Caswall Smith, published by  George G. Harrap & Company, printed by  The Vandyck Printers Ltd - NPG Ax199040

George Bernard Shaw

by Lizzie Caswall Smith, published by George G. Harrap & Company, printed by The Vandyck Printers Ltd
photogravure, 1913, published 1915
NPG Ax199040

George Bernard Shaw, by Lizzie Caswall Smith, published by  George G. Harrap & Company, printed by  The Vandyck Printers Ltd - NPG Ax199041

George Bernard Shaw

by Lizzie Caswall Smith, published by George G. Harrap & Company, printed by The Vandyck Printers Ltd
photogravure, 1913, published 1915
NPG Ax199041

George Bernard Shaw, by Walter Stoneman, for  James Russell & Sons - NPG Ax39212

George Bernard Shaw

by Walter Stoneman, for James Russell & Sons
bromide print, circa 1916
NPG Ax39212

George Bernard Shaw, by Vaughan & Freeman - NPG x4078

George Bernard Shaw

by Vaughan & Freeman
gelatin silver print, 1920s
NPG x4078

George Bernard Shaw, by Walter Stoneman - NPG x185231

George Bernard Shaw

by Walter Stoneman
bromide print, copied May 1941 (circa 1920)
NPG x185231

George Bernard Shaw, by Lafayette - NPG x37025

George Bernard Shaw

by Lafayette
whole-plate film negative, 8 July 1926
NPG x37025

George Bernard Shaw, by Lafayette - NPG x37026

George Bernard Shaw

by Lafayette
whole-plate film negative, 8 July 1926
NPG x37026

George Bernard Shaw, by Lafayette - NPG x37027

George Bernard Shaw

by Lafayette
whole-plate film negative, 8 July 1926
NPG x37027

George Bernard Shaw, by Lafayette - NPG x37028

George Bernard Shaw

by Lafayette
whole-plate film negative, 8 July 1926
NPG x37028

George Bernard Shaw, by Lafayette - NPG x37029

George Bernard Shaw

by Lafayette
whole-plate film negative, 8 July 1926
NPG x37029

'George Bernard Shaw at Seventy', by Nickolas Muray - NPG x193426

'George Bernard Shaw at Seventy'

by Nickolas Muray
halftone reproduction tear sheet, published November 1926
NPG x193426

George Bernard Shaw, by Dorothy Wilding - NPG x13457

George Bernard Shaw

by Dorothy Wilding
chlorobromide print on card mount, 1928
NPG x13457

George Bernard Shaw, by Dorothy Wilding - NPG x13455

George Bernard Shaw

by Dorothy Wilding
chlorobromide print on card mount, 1928
NPG x13455

George Bernard Shaw, by Dorothy Wilding - NPG x13456

George Bernard Shaw

by Dorothy Wilding
print, 1928
NPG x13456

George Bernard Shaw, by Dorothy Wilding - NPG x13458

George Bernard Shaw

by Dorothy Wilding
bromide print, 1928
NPG x13458

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.