Sir William Maynard Gomm

1 portrait by James Bowles

Sir William Maynard Gomm, by James Bowles, 1873-1874 -NPG 1071 - © National Portrait Gallery, London

© National Portrait Gallery, London

Early Victorian Portraits Catalogue

Sir William Maynard Gomm

by James Bowles
1873-1874
13 in. x 10 in. (330 mm x 254 mm)
NPG 1071

This portraitback to top

The head, uniform and medals in this portrait are identical with a photograph by Maull & Co, reproduced as a woodcut ILN, LXI (1872), 412. While the uniform, accessories, and background view of the Tower of London are painted with opaque colours, the face and left hand are slightly tinted in transparent colours, showing what seems to be the original photograph underneath. Gomm is wearing his uniform as constable of the Tower; the sash and star of the Bath; the cross of the order of St Anne of Russia; the gold cross and clasp suspended from his neck, and the medal with six clasps, for services in the Peninsular War; and the Waterloo medal. [1] The name of the artist and the date were provided by the donor who wrote (letter of 17 November 1896, NPG archives): 'We have larger portraits but this is the best portrait we have of him.'

Footnotesback to top

1) Information kindly communicated by W. Y. Carman of the National Army Museum.

Physical descriptionback to top

Brown eyes, grey hair. Dressed in a dark blue uniform with red facings and gilt buttons, wearing a gold sash from right to left, and a crimson one from left to right, various medals and stars with red and crimson ribbons. His sword has a silver hilt and black scabbard. Multi-coloured Dutch rug on table at left, silver keys, and plumed hat. Dark curtain at left and above, with a tassel top right, stone-coloured wall and pillar behind. Tower of London grey, with blue sky above.

Provenanceback to top

By descent to Francis Carr-Gomm, and presented by him, 1896.


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 Sir William Maynard Gomm