Sir William Chambers
(1722-1796), ArchitectMid-Georgian Portraits Catalogue Entry
Sitter in 16 portraits
Born in Gothenburg, Sweden to Scottish parents, Chambers worked for the Swedish East India Company, travelling to China where he studied Chinese architecture and decoration and then studied architecture in Paris and Italy before moving to London in 1755. He quickly attracted royal commissions notably the Chinese Pagoda at Kew. Best remembered for designing and building Somerset House, a project he worked on from 1775 to 1795. This Neo-classical development housed many government offices and provided accommodation for various learned societies, including the Royal Academy, the Royal Society, and the Society of Antiquaries. A founding member of the Royal Academy, he was its first Professor of Architecture.
Explore the portrait of Sir William Chambers by Benjamin Wyon (NPG D2911) from all angles
by Jeremiah Meyer
watercolour and bodycolour on ivory, after 1770
NPG 4044
The Academicians of the Royal Academy
by John Sanders, after Johan Joseph Zoffany
watercolour and ink, 1773, based on a work of 1772
NPG 1437
Key to 'The Academicians of the Royal Academy'
by John Sanders, after Johan Joseph Zoffany
pencil, circa 1773
NPG 1437a
after Sir Joshua Reynolds
ink and grey wash with touches of red crayon on paper, probably late 1770s
NPG 3159
Sir William Chambers; Joseph Wilton; Sir Joshua Reynolds
by John Francis Rigaud
oil on canvas, 1782
On display in Room 18 on Floor 3 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG 987
by D.P. Pariset, after Pierre-Étienne Falconet
stipple engraving, (1769)
NPG D2041
by Richard Houston, after Francis Cotes
mezzotint, published 1772
NPG D32832
by Richard Houston, published by Robert Sayer, after Francis Cotes
mezzotint, published 1 June 1772
NPG D19012
The Academicians of the Royal Academy
by Richard Earlom, after Johan Joseph Zoffany
mezzotint, published 1773
NPG D21304
by Valentine Green, after Sir Joshua Reynolds
mezzotint, 1780
NPG D32831
by Charles (Cantelowe, Cantlo) Bestland, after Henry Singleton
stipple engraving, published 1802 (1795)
NPG D10716
by Charles (Cantelowe, Cantlo) Bestland, after Henry Singleton
stipple engraving, published 1802 (1795)
NPG D36021
by William Daniell, after George Dance
soft-ground etching, published 1 February 1809 (17 March 1793)
NPG D12124
by William Daniell, after George Dance
soft-ground etching, published 1 February 1809 (17 March 1793)
NPG D14750
by Benjamin Wyon, after Sir Richard Westmacott
bronze medal, 1857
NPG D2911
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.