King Richard III
1 portrait
King Richard III
by Unknown artist
oil on panel, late 16th century (late 15th century)
25 1/8 in. x 18 1/2 in. (638 mm x 470 mm)
Given by James Thomson Gibson-Craig, 1862
Primary Collection
NPG 148
Sitter
King Richard III (1452-1485), Reigned 1483-5. Sitter associated with 24 portraits.
Artist
Unknown artist. Artist associated with 6531 portraits.
This Portrait
Richard III was the last Plantagenet king of England. As Duke of Gloucester he was a staunch supporter of his elder brother Edward IV against the Lancastrians, but after Edward's death he steadily assumed power during the minority of Edward V, and was crowned in his place. When in 1483 Edward and his brother the Duke of York disappeared from the Tower of London it was rumoured that Richard had slain the boys. This portrait, in which he appears to be placing a ring on the little finger of his right hand, has been seen by some as evidence of his cruel nature and by others as evidence of his humanity. Immortalised by Shakespeare as 'Crookback', scholars now believe that the emphasis put on what was probably only a slight bodily deformity was part of the negative propaganda arising from his reputation as a murderer.
Linked Publications
Sound Guide
Tudor Portraits Resource Pack, p. 5
The National Portrait Gallery, 1997, p. 30
Cooper, John, Visitor's Guide, 2000, p. 11
Gittings, Clare, The National Portrait Gallery Book of The Tudors, 2006, p. 2
MacLeod, Catharine, Tudor Portraits in the National Portrait Gallery collection, 1996, p. 5
Parris, Matthew, Heroes and Villains: Scarfe at the National Portrait Gallery, 2003 (accompanying the exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery from 30 September 2003 - 4 April 2004), p. 113
Piper, David, The English Face, 1992, p. 25
Saumarez Smith, Charles, The National Portrait Gallery: an illustrated guide, 2000, p. 31
Saumarez Smith, Charles, The National Portrait Gallery, 1997, p. 30
Saywell, David; Simon, Jacob, Complete Illustrated Catalogue, 2004, p. 520
Strong, Roy, Tudor and Jacobean Portraits, 1969, p. 263
Williamson, David, The National Portrait Gallery's History of the Kings and Queens of England, 1998, p. 80
Subjects & Themes
