George Meredith

Sitterback to top

• George Meredith (1828-1909), Novelist and poet. Sitter in 11 portraits.

Artistback to top

• Theodore Spicer-Simson (1871-1959). Artist of 17 portraits.

This portraitback to top

This medal, the first of many by Theodore Spicer-Simpson to enter the Gallery's collection, was purchased from him for 5 guineas with encouragement from Roger Fry, then Editor of the Burlington Magazine. Spicer-Simson recalled the origins of this medal in his reminiscences, A Collector of Characters (posthumously published, 1962): 'Christmastime brought us to England in 1908. While there the Society of Authors requested me to do the portrait of George Meredith. He refused to sit.… I then asked Meredith's daughter, Mrs Sturgis. She said there might be only one way of succeeding, which would be to "spring it on Father." So she invited me to lunch at her home near Box Hill and after the meal we drove over in a carriage and pair.… Then Mrs Sturgis told her father he should sit for me. I said, "Mr Meredith, I have prepared something. If you do not like it, I will destroy it before your eyes. Otherwise I hope you will sit." After looking at the sketch and learning that it would not be produced by the hundreds, he consented. We parted good friends.'

Linked publicationsback to top

• Saywell, David; Simon, Jacob, Complete Illustrated Catalogue, 2004, p. 427

Subject/Themeback to top

• Medals and medallions