Isambard Kingdom Brunel

Sitterback to top

• Isambard Kingdom Brunel (1806-1859), Civil engineer. Sitter in 12 portraits.

Artistback to top

• Robert Howlett (died 1858). Artist associated with 7 portraits.

This portraitback to top

Isambard Kingdom Brunel, the son of Sir Marc Isambard Brunel, earned early experience working on his father's Thames Tunnel. He went on to design suspension bridges, the Great Western Railway and railways in Italy, India and Australia. His greatest fame however came as a designer of ocean-going steamships including the Great Eastern, before whose massive chains he stands in this famous photograph. Little is known of the photographer Robert Howlett whom the Illustrated Times rightly called 'one of the most skilful photographers of the day'. He died less than a year after this picture was taken, poisoned, it was suggested, by his own photographic chemicals.

Related worksback to top

• NPG P662: Isambard Kingdom Brunel (variant)

Linked publicationsback to top

• Victorian Portraits Resource Pack, p. 19
• Cooper, John, Great Britons: The Great Debate, 2002, p. 101
• Cooper, John, A Guide to the National Portrait Gallery, 2009, p. 46
• Funnell, Peter, Victorian Portraits in the National Portrait Gallery Collection, 1996, p. 19
• Funnell, Peter (introduction); Marsh, Jan, A Guide to Victorian and Edwardian Portraits, 2011, p. 23
• Hart-Davis, Adam, Chain Reactions, 2000, p. 157
• Piper, David, The English Face, 1992, p. 217
• Ribeiro, Aileen, The Gallery of Fashion, 2000, p. 18
• Rogers, Malcolm, Camera Portraits, 1989 (accompanying the exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery from 20 October 1989 - 21 January 1990), p. 47
• Saumarez Smith, Charles, The National Portrait Gallery: An Illustrated Guide, 2000, p. 128
• Saumarez Smith, Charles, The National Portrait Gallery, 1997, p. 128
• Saywell, David; Simon, Jacob, Complete Illustrated Catalogue, 2004, p. 84

Subjects & Themesback to top

• Eyeglasses and spectacles
• Hats and head-attire
• Smoking
• Transport and vehicles