Thomas Carlyle

1 portrait

© National Portrait Gallery, London

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Thomas Carlyle

published by James Fraser, after Daniel Maclise
lithograph, published 1833
8 7/8 in. x 5 7/8 in. (224 mm x 150 mm) paper size
Purchased with help from the Friends of the National Libraries and the Pilgrim Trust, 1966
Reference Collection
NPG D2019

Sitterback to top

  • Thomas Carlyle (1795-1881), Historian and essayist; Trustee of the National Portrait Gallery. Sitter associated with 94 portraits.

Artistsback to top

  • James Fraser (after 1804-1841), Publisher. Artist or producer associated with 48 portraits.
  • Daniel Maclise (1806-1870), History and portrait painter. Artist or producer associated with 108 portraits, Sitter associated with 17 portraits.

This portraitback to top

This is the earliest-known portrait of Carlyle, showing his youthful clean-shaven appearance. The original drawing, now in the V&A, was reportedly completed in about twenty minutes. The portrait is part of Maclise's 'Gallery of Illustrious Literary Characters' for Fraser's Magazine, whose artists, the 'Fraserian Circle', used pen names; Maclise's was 'Alfred Croquis'.

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Subject/Themeback to top

Events of 1833back to top

Current affairs

Shaftesbury's Factory Act is passed regulating women's hours and providing for the education of children working in the textile industry.
Bank Act is passed, making Bank of England notes Britain's legal tender.

Art and science

Charles Lamb publishes Last Essays of Elia after the enormous success of his earlier Essays. A comic allegorization of his humdrum clerical job they become one of the period's literary sensations.
Charles Dickens begins his series Sketches by Boz in the Monthly Magazine.

International

Abolition of slavery in the British Empire; 780,000 slaves are freed, £20 million is allocated as compensation for slave owners and a six year apprenticeship system for freed slaves is established.

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