Joe Chamberlain; Arthur James Balfour, 1st Earl of Balfour

Sittersback to top

• Arthur James Balfour, 1st Earl of Balfour (1848-1930), Prime Minister and philosopher. Sitter in 113 portraits.
• Joseph ('Joe') Chamberlain (1836-1914), Industrialist and politician. Sitter associated with 69 portraits.

Artistback to top

• Sydney Prior Hall (1842-1922), Portrait painter and illustrator. Artist associated with 152 portraits, Sitter in 2 portraits.

This portraitback to top

A rare and informal view of two great statesmen, lounging back on one of the green front benches in the House of Commons, evidently taking part in a debate. Chamberlain, formidable political boss of Birmingham, had deserted the Liberal Party over the issue of Irish Home Rule. He joined Lord Salisbury's third administration in 1895 as Secretary of State for the Colonies. The intellectual Balfour, Salisbury's nephew, and leader of the Tories in the House of Commons, succeeded his uncle as Prime Minister in 1902.

Linked publicationsback to top

• Ribeiro, Aileen, The Gallery of Fashion, 2000, p. 191
• Saywell, David; Simon, Jacob, Complete Illustrated Catalogue, 2004, p. 31

Subjects & Themesback to top

• Eyeglasses and spectacles
• Known interiors