George Gordon Byron, 6th Baron Byron

Sitterback to top

• George Gordon Byron, 6th Baron Byron (1788-1824), Poet. Sitter in 32 portraits.

Artistback to top

• Thomas Phillips (1770-1845), Portrait painter. Artist associated with 215 portraits, Sitter in 4 portraits.

This portraitback to top

Byron sat to Phillips in 1813 wearing the Albanian costume which he had bought four years earlier; the costume is now at Bowood in Wiltshire. The finished portrait met with a mixed reception but the essayist and poet Leigh Hunt thought it 'by far the best that has appeared; I mean the best of him at his best time of life, and the most like him in features as well as expression'. This version was painted in about 1835.

Linked publicationsback to top

• Audio Guide
• Cooper, John, Visitor's Guide, 2000, p. 63
• Gibson, Robin, Treasures from the National Portrait Gallery, 1996, p. 83
• Holmes, Richard, Insights: The Romantic Poets and Their Circle, 2005, p. 76
• Holmes, Richard; Crane, David; Woof, Robert; Hebron, Stephen, Romantics and Revolutionaries: Regency portraits from the National Portrait Gallery, 2002, p. 57
• Saumarez Smith, Charles, The National Portrait Gallery: An Illustrated Guide, 2000, p. 109
• Saumarez Smith, Charles, The National Portrait Gallery, 1997, p. 109
• Saywell, David; Simon, Jacob, Complete Illustrated Catalogue, 2004, p. 95
• Walker, Richard, Regency Portraits, 1985, p. 79
• Woof, Robert; Hebron, Stephen, Romantic Icons, 1999, p. 85

Subjects & Themesback to top

• Costumes and national dress
• Fashion tour
• Hats and head-attire
• On display at the Gallery
• Poets tour
• Regency tour