John Keats
1 portrait
John Keats
by Joseph Severn
oil on ivory, 1819
4 1/4 in. x 3 1/8 in. (108 mm x 79 mm)
Given by executors of Sir Charles Wentworth Dilke, Bt, 1919
Primary Collection
NPG 1605
Click on the links below to find out more:
Sitterback to top
- John Keats (1795-1821), Poet. Sitter in 15 portraits, Artist associated with 2 portraits.
Artistback to top
- Joseph Severn (1793-1879), Painter; friend of John Keats. Artist associated with 14 portraits, Sitter associated with 3 portraits.
This portraitback to top
This haunting portrait of John Keats was painted by his friend Joseph Severn. It presents Keats as an isolated, poetic genius. The portrait was painted while Keats was writing his Odes and just before the onset of his fatal illness. The first version of this portrait was a watercolour miniature which Severn gave to the poet's fiancée, Fanny Brawne, even though Keats was against the gift.
Linked publicationsback to top
- Holmes, Richard, Insights: The Romantic Poets and Their Circle, 2005, p. 20
- Holmes, Richard; Crane, David; Woof, Robert; Hebron, Stephen, Romantics and Revolutionaries: Regency portraits from the National Portrait Gallery, 2002, p. 77
- Saywell, David; Simon, Jacob, Complete Illustrated Catalogue, 2004, p. 346
- Walker, Richard, Miniatures: 300 Years of the English Miniature, 1998, p. 97
- Walker, Richard, Regency Portraits, 1985, p. 288
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