Harry Gordon Selfridge

Sitterback to top

• Harry Gordon Selfridge (1858-1947), Businessman and founder of Selfridges. Sitter in 12 portraits.

Artistback to top

• Robert Stewart Sherriffs (1906-1960). Artist of 39 portraits.

This portraitback to top

The American-born businessman Harry Gordon Selfridge settled in London in 1906 and opened Selfridge & Co Ltd in Oxford Street in 1909, introducing American marketing and advertising techniques with striking success. Throughout his life Selfridge looked on business as an exciting and glorious adventure; he published The Romance of Commerce in 1918 and lectured on the subject. This drawing of Selfridge sitting before a crumbling Parthenon appeared in London Calling with the caption: 'Mr Gordon Selfridge wonders if such a thing could happen in Oxford Street'.

Linked publicationsback to top

• Saywell, David; Simon, Jacob, Complete Illustrated Catalogue, 2004, p. 555

Portrait setback to top

• Cartoons by Robert Stewart Sherriffs, 1920s-1930s