10 OF 79

Sir George Scharf

10 of 79 portraits of Sir George Scharf

Overview
Extended Catalogue Entry

Sir George Scharf

by Walter William Ouless
oil on canvas, 1885
36 3/8 in. x 28 1/4 in. (923 mm x 716 mm) overall
Given by a number of friends, 1886
Primary Collection
NPG 985

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Sir George Scharf (1820-1895), Artist and art historian; first Director of the National Portrait Gallery. Sitter in 79 portraits, Artist associated with 75 portraits.

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Walter William Ouless (1848-1933), Portrait painter. Artist associated with 40 portraits, Sitter in 10 portraits.

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Scharf studied art under his father, the draughtsman and lithographer George Scharf, before entering the Royal Academy Schools in 1838. In the 1840s Scharf was twice commissioned as a draughtsman to travel to Asia Minor and, in the late 1840s and early 1850s, established himself as a leading book illustrator. Also a lecturer and an arts administrator, in 1857 Scharf was appointed as the secretary of the National Portrait Gallery. A diligent art historian, he became an authority on portraiture and in 1882 his title was changed to Director. This portrait of Scharf, who was rarely seen without a sketchbook, was made three years later and shows him sketching the artist as he works.