Robert Falcon Scott

Sitterback to top

• Robert Falcon Scott (1868-1912), Antarctic explorer. Sitter in 9 portraits.

Artistback to top

• Herbert George Ponting (1870-1935). Artist of 10 portraits, Sitter in 1 portrait.

This portraitback to top

This photograph by Herbert Ponting, the official photographer to the Antarctic expedition led by Robert Falcon Scott, shows Scott in his hut at work on his famous journal. Scott had set sail in the Terra Nova in June 1911, and established his expedition's winter quarters at Cape Evans. Three weeks after this photograph was taken, the expedition set out on their southern sledge journey. On 16 January 1912 they arrived at the South Pole to find the Norwegian Amundsen's flag already there. On the return journey from the Pole, Scott and his companions perished, among them the legendary Captain Oates. The last entry in Scott's journal reads: 'We shall stick it out to the end, but we are getting weaker, of course, and the end cannot be far. It seems a pity, but I do not think I can write any more'.

Linked publicationsback to top

• Rogers, Malcolm, Camera Portraits, 1989 (accompanying the exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery from 20 October 1989 - 21 January 1990), p. 167
• Saumarez Smith, Charles, The National Portrait Gallery: An Illustrated Guide, 2000, p. 179
• Saumarez Smith, Charles, The National Portrait Gallery, 1997, p. 178
• Saywell, David; Simon, Jacob, Complete Illustrated Catalogue, 2004, p. 552

Linked displays and exhibitionsback to top

• Scott of the Antarctic (16 August 2011 - 22 April 2012)
• Captain Scott's Last Expedition (23 July 2007 - 28 January 2008)

Subjects & Themesback to top

• Bedrooms
• Books and libraries
• Clocks and timepieces
• Purses, bags and cases
• Smoking
• Writing