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Sir George Scharf

(1820-1895), Artist and art historian; first Director and later trustee of the National Portrait Gallery

Sitter in 79 portraits
Artist associated with 588 portraits
Artist and art historian; appointed first Secretary of the National Portrait Gallery in 1857 and Director in 1882. Scharf studied art under his father, the draughtsman and lithographer George Scharf, before entering the Royal Academy Schools in 1838. In the 1840s Scharf was twice commissioned as a draughtsman to travel to Asia Minor and, in the late 1840s and early 1850s, established himself as a leading book illustrator. Scharf devoted nearly 40 years to researching and identifying authentic portraits of significant historical figures and became an authority on portraiture.

More on Scharf: Sir George Scharf sketchbooks

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Philip V, by Sir George Scharf, after  Jean Baptiste van Loo - NPG D5356

Philip V

by Sir George Scharf, after Jean Baptiste van Loo
pen and ink, (1742)
NPG D5356

David Beaton (Beatoun), by Sir George Scharf, after  G. Sibelius - NPG D49405

David Beaton (Beatoun)

by Sir George Scharf, after G. Sibelius
pencil on tracing paper, late 19th century, based on a work published 1774
NPG D49405

William Shakespeare, by Sir George Scharf, after a painting attributed to  John Taylor - NPG D40741

William Shakespeare

by Sir George Scharf, after a painting attributed to John Taylor
lithograph, circa 1856 (circa 1610)
NPG D40741

Mary of Modena, by Sir George Scharf, after  John Smith, after  Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt - NPG D21675

Mary of Modena

by Sir George Scharf, after John Smith, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
pencil, circa 1857-1895 (1703)
NPG D21675

Jane Myddelton (née Needham), by Sir George Scharf, after  Ignatius Joseph van den Berghe, after  Silvester (Sylvester) Harding - NPG D22543

Jane Myddelton (née Needham)

by Sir George Scharf, after Ignatius Joseph van den Berghe, after Silvester (Sylvester) Harding
pen and ink, circa 1857-1895
NPG D22543

Nicolas Boileau-Despréaux, by Sir George Scharf, after  François Chéreau the Elder, after  Hyacinthe Rigaud - NPG D22544

Nicolas Boileau-Despréaux

by Sir George Scharf, after François Chéreau the Elder, after Hyacinthe Rigaud
pen and ink, circa 1857-1895 (1716)
NPG D22544

Unknown woman, formerly known as Catherine (née FitzGerald), Countess of Desmond, by Sir George Scharf, after  François-Germain Aliamet, after  Unknown artist - NPG D23295

Unknown woman, formerly known as Catherine (née FitzGerald), Countess of Desmond

by Sir George Scharf, after François-Germain Aliamet, after Unknown artist
pencil on tracing paper, circa 1857-1895
NPG D23295

George Calvert, 1st Baron Baltimore, by Sir George Scharf, after  James Caldwall (Caldwell), after  Unknown artist - NPG D34114

George Calvert, 1st Baron Baltimore

by Sir George Scharf, after James Caldwall (Caldwell), after Unknown artist
pencil on tracing paper, circa 1857-1895
NPG D34114

Anne of Denmark, by Sir George Scharf, after  Unknown engraver, after  Isaac Oliver - NPG D48211

Anne of Denmark

by Sir George Scharf, after Unknown engraver, after Isaac Oliver
pencil on tracing paper, circa 1857-1895 (circa 1610)
NPG D48211

Samuel Clarke, by Sir George Scharf, after  Unknown artist - NPG D48212

Samuel Clarke

by Sir George Scharf, after Unknown artist
pencil, circa 1857-1895
NPG D48212

Charles Cornwallis, 1st Marquess Cornwallis, by Sir George Scharf, after  William Holl Jr, after  John Hoppner - NPG D16797

Charles Cornwallis, 1st Marquess Cornwallis

by Sir George Scharf, after William Holl Jr, after John Hoppner
pen and ink, 1858 or after
NPG D16797

Six unknown children, by Sir George Scharf, probably after  Sir Anthony van Dyck - NPG D22542

Six unknown children

by Sir George Scharf, probably after Sir Anthony van Dyck
pen and ink on tracing paper, 1859 (1630s)
NPG D22542

Prince James Francis Edward Stuart, by Sir George Scharf, after  Gérard Edelinck, after  François de Troy - NPG D32657

Prince James Francis Edward Stuart

by Sir George Scharf, after Gérard Edelinck, after François de Troy
pencil on tracing paper, 1859
NPG D32657

Sir David Wilkie, by Sir George Scharf, after  Sir David Wilkie - NPG D151

Sir David Wilkie

by Sir George Scharf, after Sir David Wilkie
pencil on tracing paper, 1859
NPG D151

William Harvey, by Sir George Scharf, after  R. Gaywood - NPG D2198

William Harvey

by Sir George Scharf, after R. Gaywood
pencil on tracing paper, 1859
NPG D2198

Charles Dibdin, by Sir George Scharf, after  Unknown artist, and after  John Young, after  Thomas Phillips, and after  Benjamin Smith, after  Thomas Kearsley - NPG D21672

Charles Dibdin

by Sir George Scharf, after Unknown artist, and after John Young, after Thomas Phillips, and after Benjamin Smith, after Thomas Kearsley
pencil on tracing paper, 9 June 1860
NPG D21672

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