William Wordsworth

Sitterback to top

• William Wordsworth (1770-1850), Poet Laureate. Sitter in 23 portraits.

Artistback to top

• Benjamin Robert Haydon (1786-1846), History painter and diarist. Artist associated with 34 portraits, Sitter in 10 portraits.

This portraitback to top

This portrait depicts Wordsworth aged seventy-two. It was painted to commemorate a sonnet that he had composed on climbing the peak of Helvellyn, after seeing Haydon's picture of Wellington musing on the Battlefield of Waterloo. Wordsworth was pleased with Haydon's heroic image, describing it as 'a likeness of me, not a mere matter-of-fact portrait, but one of a poetical character.'

Related worksback to top

• NPG D19912: William Wordsworth (after)
• NPG Ax46229: William Wordsworth (after)

Linked publicationsback to top

• Audio Guide
• Cooper, John, A Guide to the National Portrait Gallery, 2009, p. 33
• Gibson, Robin, Treasures from the National Portrait Gallery, 1996, p. 85
• Holmes, Richard, Insights: The Romantic Poets and Their Circle, 2005, p. 42
• Holmes, Richard; Crane, David; Woof, Robert; Hebron, Stephen, Romantics and Revolutionaries: Regency portraits from the National Portrait Gallery, 2002, p. 27
• Piper, David, The English Face, 1992, p. 184
• Saumarez Smith, Charles, The National Portrait Gallery: An Illustrated Guide, 2000, p. 125
• Saumarez Smith, Charles, The National Portrait Gallery, 1997, p. 125
• Saumarez Smith, Charles, The National Portrait Gallery, 1997, p. 125
• Saywell, David; Simon, Jacob, Complete Illustrated Catalogue, 2004, p. 678
• Walker, Richard, Regency Portraits, 1985, p. 575
• Woof, Robert; Hebron, Stephen, Romantic Icons, 1999, p. 59

Subjects & Themesback to top

• On display at the Gallery
• Portraits with Archive documents