Charles Darwin

Sitterback to top

• Charles Robert Darwin (1809-1882), Naturalist, geologist and originator of the theory of evolution. Sitter in 30 portraits.

Artistback to top

• John Collier (1850-1934), Portrait painter and writer on art. Artist associated with 21 portraits, Sitter in 7 portraits.

This portraitback to top

This portrait of Charles Darwin, the great scientist and author of On the Origin of Species, is a copy by the artist of a portrait undertaken by John Collier for the Linnaean Society. Collier was himself the son-in-law of another prominent late Victorian scientist, Thomas Henry Huxley. The portrait was presented to the Gallery by Darwin's eldest son, William Erasmus Darwin, who wrote to Lionel Cust in 1896: 'The picture is a replica of the one in the rooms in the Linnaean Society and was made by Collier after the original. I took some trouble about it and as a likeness it is an improvement on the original.' It shows Darwin as an old man in the year before his death. According to Darwin's third son, Francis, 'The portrait represents him standing facing the observer in the loose cloak so familiar to those who knew him and with his slouch hat in his hand. Many of those who knew his face most intimately, think that Mr Collier's picture is the best of the portraits and in this judgement the sitter himself was inclined to agree.'

Related worksback to top

• NPG D9709: Charles Darwin (source portrait)

Linked publicationsback to top

• Audio Guide
• Victorian Portraits Resource Pack, p. 21
• Cooper, John, Great Britons: The Great Debate, 2002, p. 121
• Cooper, John, Visitor's Guide, 2000, p. 80
• Cooper, John, A Guide to the National Portrait Gallery, 2009, p. 43
• Funnell, Peter, Victorian Portraits in the National Portrait Gallery Collection, 1996, p. 21
• Funnell, Peter (introduction); Marsh, Jan, A Guide to Victorian and Edwardian Portraits, 2011, p. 27
• Hackmann, W.D., Apples and Atoms: Portraits of Scientists from Newton to Rutherford, 1986, p. 55
• Hart-Davis, Adam, Chain Reactions, 2000, p. 123
• Parris, Matthew, Heroes and Villains: Scarfe at the National Portrait Gallery, 2003 (accompanying the exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery from 30 September 2003 to 4 April 2004), p. 59
• Saumarez Smith, Charles, The National Portrait Gallery: An Illustrated Guide, 2000, p. 145
• Saumarez Smith, Charles, The National Portrait Gallery, 1997, p. 145
• Saywell, David; Simon, Jacob, Complete Illustrated Catalogue, 2004, p. 165

Subjects & Themesback to top

• Hats and head-attire
• On display at the Gallery
• Scientific discovery tour
• Victorian tour