Oscar Wilde

Oscar Wilde

by Napoleon Sarony
albumen panel print, 1882
12 in. x 7 1/4 in. (305 mm x 184 mm)
Purchased, 1976
Primary Collection
NPG P24

Sitter

Oscar Wilde (1854-1900), Wit and dramatist. Sitter in 12 portraits.

Artist

Napoleon Sarony (1821-1896). Artist associated with 23 portraits.

This Portrait

This photograph of Oscar Wilde lounging against an appropriately artistic backdrop was taken by the New York studio photographer Napoleon Sarony. Wilde had arrived in New York in January 1882 on the steamship Arizona, with 'nothing to declare but his genius'. He needed a publicity photograph for his lecture tour, so he went to Sarony's studio and Sarony provided just what he wanted: an image of limpid dandyism in quilted smoking-jacket, silk knee-breeches and patent leather slippers. Apparently, ' Wilde arrived holding a white cane across his fur-lined overcoat. Sarony took him first in his seal-skin cap, then bare-headed in his long trousers, then bare-headed in his knee-breeches.' As Sarony declared, Wilde was 'a picturesque subject indeed'.

Linked Publications

Victorian Portraits Resource Pack, p. 31
The National Portrait Gallery, 1997, p. 152
Callow, Simon, Character Sketch: Oscar Wilde and His Circle, 2000, p. 11
Cooper, John, Visitor's Guide, 2000, p. 118
Funnell, Peter, Victorian Portraits in the National Portrait Gallery collection, 1996, p. 31
Rogers, Malcolm, Camera Portraits, 1989 (accompanying the exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery from 20 October 1989 - 21 January 1990), p. 103
Saumarez Smith, Charles, The National Portrait Gallery: an illustrated guide, 2000, p. 152
Saywell, David; Simon, Jacob, Complete Illustrated Catalogue, 2004, p. 661