National Portrait Gallery - Person

John Hunter (1728-1793), Surgeon and anatomist

Sitter in 13 portraits
John Hunter moved to London from his native Scotland in 1748. He established a successful surgical practice, and made numerous discoveries in medical science and anatomy. He became Fellow of the Royal Society in 1767, and Surgeon-General in 1790. After his death, Hunter quickly gained a reputation as having been the founding father of his profession. His collection of nearly 14,000 natural history specimens became the basis of the Hunterian Museum, in Glasgow, established in 1807.

List Thumbnail

John Hunter

by Unknown artist
plaster cast of life mask, 1913 or before (circa 1785)
NPG 1712

John Hunter

by Unknown artist
bronze cast of life-mask, 1962 (circa 1785)
NPG 4288

John Hunter

by John Jackson, after Sir Joshua Reynolds
oil on canvas, 1813 (1786)
NPG 77

John Hunter

by and published by William Sharp, and published by Benjamin Beale Evans, and published by William Skelton, after Sir Joshua Reynolds
line engraving, published 1 January 1788 (1786)
NPG D9006

John Hunter

by and published by William Sharp, published by Benjamin Beale Evans, published by William Skelton, after Sir Joshua Reynolds
line engraving, published 1 January 1788 (1786)
NPG D36394

John Hunter

by and published by William Sharp, published by Benjamin Beale Evans, published by William Skelton, after Sir Joshua Reynolds
line engraving, published 1 January 1788 (1786)
NPG D36395

John Hunter

by Henry Bone, after Sir Joshua Reynolds
Pencil drawing squared in ink for transfer, 1798 (1786)
NPG D17261

John Hunter

by William Overend Geller, printed by S.H. Hawkins, published by H. Benham, after Sir Joshua Reynolds
mezzotint, published 21 April 1836 (1786)
NPG D36396