Sir Francis Leggatt Chantrey
(1781-1841), SculptorSitter in 11 portraits
Artist associated with 267 portraits
Though destined to become one of the most famous sculptors of his age, Chantrey began life as a painter. In his memoirs the artist Charles Robert Leslie remembered Chantrey as 'handsome (his mouth exceedingly beautiful) with a bluff John Bull look'. The most outstanding sculptor of his generation, Chantrey executed portrait busts, public monuments and memorials. His success was the result of his study of character, combining direct observation with simplicity of form. Chantrey had little formal training. He was born of a poor family in Sheffield and only established himself in fashionable society in 1809 when he married into money and set up a studio in London. In 1811, the exhibition of his bust of the radical John Horne Tooke made his name. For the rest of his life Chantrey never wanted for commissions. He left a fortune to the National Gallery for the promotion of contemporary British art.
by Sir Francis Leggatt Chantrey
pencil and grey wash, circa 1800
NPG 2103a
by Sir Francis Leggatt Chantrey
chalk, circa 1802
NPG 654
by Sir Francis Leggatt Chantrey
ink and pencil, circa 1810
NPG 316a(122)
by Sir Francis Leggatt Chantrey
marble bust, 1811
On display at Museum of London Docklands, London
NPG 4934
by Sir Francis Leggatt Chantrey
pencil, circa 1814
NPG 316a(191)
by Sir Francis Leggatt Chantrey
pencil and brown ink, 1815
NPG 316a(5)
by Sir Francis Leggatt Chantrey
pencil, 1815
NPG 316a(64)
by Sir Francis Leggatt Chantrey
pencil, 1815-1816
NPG 316a(70)
by Sir Francis Leggatt Chantrey
pencil, 1815
NPG 316a(64a)
by Sir Francis Leggatt Chantrey
pencil, 1816
NPG 3648
by Sir Francis Leggatt Chantrey
plaster cast of bust, 1816
NPG 986
by Sir Francis Leggatt Chantrey
pencil, circa 1816
NPG 316a(13b)
Unknown man, formerly known as Sir Joseph Banks, Bt
by Sir Francis Leggatt Chantrey
pencil, circa 1816-1818
NPG 316a(172)
Louisa Jane (née Russell), Duchess of Abercorn
by Sir Francis Leggatt Chantrey
pencil, 1817
NPG 316a(104)
Louisa Jane (née Russell), Duchess of Abercorn
by Sir Francis Leggatt Chantrey
pencil, 1817
NPG 316a(105)
by Sir Francis Leggatt Chantrey
pencil, 1817
NPG 316a(40)
by Sir Francis Leggatt Chantrey
pencil, 1817
NPG 316a(51)
Sir Archibald MacDonald, 1st Bt
by Sir Francis Leggatt Chantrey
pencil, pen and ink, 1817
NPG 316a(166)
Sir Thomas Stamford Bingley Raffles
by Sir Francis Leggatt Chantrey
pencil, 1817
NPG 316a(156)
by Sir Francis Leggatt Chantrey
pencil, circa 1817
NPG 316a(198)
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.