George Cruikshank

Inscriptionback to top

Incised on the front of the base, in imitation of the sitter's signature: George Cruikshank and below: BEHNES

This portraitback to top

Apparently related to the marble bust by Behnes on Cruikshank's tomb at Kensal Green Cemetery, London, exhibited RA, 1855 (1529). The original NPG bust was broken in 1923, and was replaced by a cast from the plaster bust in the British Museum. A similar plaster bust is in the print room of the Victoria and Albert Museum, and another was apparently in the Cruikshank sale, Christie's, 15 May 1878 (lot 169). A marble bust by J. Gawen, possibly that exhibited RA, 1868 (1032), with Charles Sawyer, 1938, was apparently based on the Behnes type.

Provenanceback to top

The original bust (now destroyed) was purchased through A. Clayton, 1901.


This extended catalogue entry is from the out-of-print National Portrait Gallery collection catalogue: Richard Ormond, Early Victorian Portraits, Her Majesty's Stationery Office, 1973, and is as published then. For the most up-to-date details on individual Collection works, we recommend reading the information provided in the Search the Collection results on this website in parallel with this text.

View all known portraits for George Cruikshank