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Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener

(1850-1916), Field Marshal

Horatio Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener of Khartoum

20th Century Portraits Catalogue Entry

Sitter in 150 portraits
Kitchener was the epitome of the imperialist military general, who commanded the British army in Egypt, the Sudan, India and in South Africa during the Boer War (1899-1902). As Secretary of State for War from the outbreak of the First World War in 1914, he converted the small British army into a military machine of three million men and his image was used for the iconic army recruitment campaign with the slogan: 'Your country needs you'. It was based on Bassano's photograph of Kitchener, with the addition of a pointing arm. It first appeared on the cover of London Opinion magazine on 5 September 1914 and was adopted for recruitment purposes soon after. Several poster and postcard versions followed, and it became one of the most iconic images of the World War One era.

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Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener, by Sir Hubert von Herkomer, and  Frederick Goodall - NPG 1782

Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener

by Sir Hubert von Herkomer, and Frederick Goodall
oil on canvas, 1890
On display in Room 23 on Floor 2 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG 1782

Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener, by Sir Leslie Ward - NPG 2684

Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener

by Sir Leslie Ward
watercolour, published in Vanity Fair 23 February 1899
NPG 2684

Encaenia at the University of Oxford, by Unknown photographer - NPG P1700(43)

Encaenia at the University of Oxford

by Unknown photographer
printing-out paper print, 21 June 1899
NPG P1700(43)

Statesmen of World War I, by Sir James Guthrie - NPG 2463

Statesmen of World War I

by Sir James Guthrie
oil on canvas, 1924-1930
On display in Room 25 on Floor 2 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG 2463

Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener, by Otto Schoefft - NPG x15599

Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener

by Otto Schoefft
albumen cabinet card, October 1884-June 1885
NPG x15599

Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener, by York & Son, after  Elliott & Fry - NPG x3675

Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener

by York & Son, after Elliott & Fry
glass lantern slide, 1890s (circa 1885)
NPG x3675

Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener, by Elliott & Fry, published by  Ogden's - NPG x136566

Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener

by Elliott & Fry, published by Ogden's
cigarette card, published circa late 1890s (circa 1885)
NPG x136566

Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener, by and after Alexander Bassano - NPG Ax136825

Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener

by and after Alexander Bassano
bromide print, circa 1902 (1885-1895)
NPG Ax136825

Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener, after Elliott & Fry - NPG x196882

Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener

after Elliott & Fry
halftone postcard print, early 1900s (circa 1885)
NPG x196882

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