8 OF 23 
Robert Louis Stevenson
8 of 23 portraits on display in Room 28 at the National Portrait Gallery
Robert Louis Stevenson
by Sir William Blake Richmond
oil on canvas, 1887
29 in. x 22 in. (737 mm x 559 mm)
Given by Sir William Blake Richmond, 1896
Primary Collection
NPG 1028
Click on the links below to find out more:
Sitterback to top
- Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-1894), Novelist and essayist. Sitter associated with 22 portraits.
Artistback to top
- Sir William Blake Richmond (1842-1921), Painter; son of George Richmond. Artist associated with 16 portraits, Sitter in 15 portraits.
This portraitback to top
The portrait was painted in one sitting, at Richmond's house, on a hot afternoon in August, 1886 amid a jovial company including Sidney Colvin, Edward Burne-Jones and Burne-Jones' daughter, Margaret. Margaret recalled their lively conversation: They discussed suicide; compared notes as to their feelings towards policemen; told ghost stories; and most of the time Mr. Richmond painted, and Mr. Stevenson sat easily talking, smoking, and drinking coffee.
Linked publicationsback to top
- Victorian Portraits Resource Pack, p. 7
- Funnell, Peter, Victorian Portraits in the National Portrait Gallery Collection, 1996, p. 7
- Funnell, Peter (introduction); Marsh, Jan, A Guide to Victorian and Edwardian Portraits, 2011, p. 43
- Saywell, David; Simon, Jacob, Complete Illustrated Catalogue, 2004, p. 589
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