Oscar Wilde

Sitterback to top

• Oscar Wilde (1854-1900), Wit and dramatist. Sitter in 12 portraits.

Artistback to top

• Napoleon Sarony (1821-1896). Artist associated with 32 portraits.

This portraitback to top

This photograph of Oscar Wilde lounging against an appropriately artistic backdrop was taken by the New York studio photographer Napoleon Sarony. Wilde had arrived in New York in January 1882 on the steamship Arizona, with 'nothing to declare but his genius'. He needed a publicity photograph for his lecture tour, so he went to Sarony's studio and Sarony provided just what he wanted: an image of limpid dandyism in quilted smoking-jacket, silk knee-breeches and patent leather slippers. Apparently, ' Wilde arrived holding a white cane across his fur-lined overcoat. Sarony took him first in his seal-skin cap, then bare-headed in his long trousers, then bare-headed in his knee-breeches.' As Sarony declared, Wilde was 'a picturesque subject indeed'.

Linked publicationsback to top

• Victorian Portraits Resource Pack, p. 31
• Callow, Simon, Character Sketches: Oscar Wilde and His Circle, 2000, p. 11
• Cooper, John, Visitor's Guide, 2000, p. 118
• Funnell, Peter, Victorian Portraits in the National Portrait Gallery Collection, 1996, p. 31
• Funnell, Peter (introduction); Marsh, Jan, A Guide to Victorian and Edwardian Portraits, 2011, p. 29
• Rogers, Malcolm, Camera Portraits, 1989 (accompanying the exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery from 20 October 1989 - 21 January 1990), p. 103
• Saumarez Smith, Charles, The National Portrait Gallery: An Illustrated Guide, 2000, p. 152
• Saywell, David; Simon, Jacob, Complete Illustrated Catalogue, 2004, p. 661

Linked displays and exhibitionsback to top

• The Brothers Sarony (20 October 2009 - 13 June 2010)