Charles Kingsley

Sitterback to top

• Charles Kingsley (1819-1875), Novelist, Church of England clergyman and controversialist. Sitter in 40 portraits.

Artistback to top

• Lowes Cato Dickinson (1819-1908), Portrait painter. Artist associated with 39 portraits.

This portraitback to top

An author and a leading figure in the Christian Socialist movement, Charles Kingsley's most famous works include Alton Locke (1850), Westward Ho! (1855) and The Water Babies (1863). Lowes Dickinson, the artist of this portrait, was himself an enthusiastic Christian Socialist and also painted F.D. Maurice and Thomas Hughes who were key members of the movement. This portrait, commissioned by Kingsley's publisher Alexander Macmillan, has a distinctive 'Alhambra' frame with Moresque ornament in the spandrels.

Linked publicationsback to top

• I-Spy National Portrait Gallery, 2010, p. 40
• Saywell, David; Simon, Jacob, Complete Illustrated Catalogue, 2004, p. 354
• Simon, Jacob, The Art of the Picture Frame: Artists, Patrons and the Framing of Portraits in Britain, 1997 (accompanying the exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery from 8 November 1996 - 9 February 1997), p. 70

Subjects & Themesback to top

• Chairs
• On display at the Gallery