Horace Walpole (1717-1797), Writer and collector
Horatio ('Horace') Walpole, 4th Earl of Orford
Sitter associated with 20 portraits
The youngest son of the Prime Minister Sir Robert Walpole, Horace Walpole was one of the eighteenth century's most famous writers, collectors and socialites. A pioneer of the Gothic taste in art, architecture and literature, he formed an exceptional collection at Strawberry Hill, the 'little Gothic castle' which he designed in Twickenham. His literary works include the first history of English art, Anecdotes of Painting, 1762, and the Gothic novel, The Castle of Otranto, 1764. Walpole was a great socialite and his collected letters are full of gossip and information about the most fashionable figures of the eighteenth century. He succeeded in 1791 as 4th Earl of Orford.
by Sir Joshua Reynolds
oil on canvas, circa 1756-1757
On display in Room 12 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG 6520
Unknown man, formerly known as Horace Walpole
attributed to Nathaniel Hone
oil on canvas, circa 1765
NPG 116
by D.P. Pariset, after Pierre-Étienne Falconet
stipple engraving, (1768)
NPG D5426
by T. Evans, after Sir Thomas Lawrence
stipple engraving, (1795)
NPG D21326
by William Daniell, after George Dance
soft-ground etching, published 1 November 1808 (13 July 1793)
NPG D12113
by Henry Meyer, published by T. Cadell & W. Davies, after William Evans, after Sir Thomas Lawrence
stipple engraving, published 27 November 1811 (1795)
NPG D20115
by Samuel William Reynolds, after Sir Joshua Reynolds
mezzotint, published 1820
NPG D3771
by William Greatbach, after John Giles Eccardt
stipple and line engraving, published 1857
NPG D5425
by William Greatbach, after Johann Heinrich Muntz
stipple and line engraving, published 1858
NPG D5424
after James Macardell, after Sir Joshua Reynolds
photogravure, late 19th century (1757)
NPG D5423
by James Macardell, after Sir Joshua Reynolds
mezzotint, (circa 1756-1757)
NPG D18993
by T. Evans, after Sir Thomas Lawrence
stipple engraving, (1795)
NPG D19933
by Burnet Reading, published by John Sewell, after Sir Joshua Reynolds
line engraving, published 1797 (1756)
NPG D14937
published by Silvester Harding, and published by Peter Brown, after John Giles Eccardt
stipple engraving, published 15 December 1798 (1754)
NPG D18982
by Henry Meyer, published by T. Cadell & W. Davies, after William Evans, after Sir Thomas Lawrence
stipple engraving, published 27 November 1811
NPG D39369
by Henry Meyer, published by T. Cadell & W. Davies, after William Evans, after Sir Thomas Lawrence
stipple engraving, published 27 November 1811 (1795)
NPG D14065
Frontispiece to Vol I of Lord Orford's Memoires (Horace Walpole)
by Thomson, after Bentley
stipple engraving, circa 1822
NPG D39370
Walpole
Related People
Maria (née Walpole), Duchess of Gloucester and Edinburgh (niece)
Robert Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford (father)
Robert Walpole, 2nd Earl of Orford (brother)
George Walpole, 3rd Earl of Orford (nephew)
Horatio Walpole, 1st Baron Walpole of Wolterton (uncle)
Catherine Walpole (née Shorter), Lady Walpole (mother)
Galfridus Walpole (uncle)
Links
Strawberry Hill, Richmond, Surrey
Category
Literature, Journalism and Publishing
Scholarship and Research
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London
Surrey
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