Unknown man, formerly known as Sir Robert Peel, 2nd Bt

Inscriptionback to top

Inscribed on a label, formerly on the back of the picture: Bought at Vokins for 25 £. by Romney/Formerly in the possession of Daniel Lyon.

This portraitback to top

The identity of this picture rests on a tenuous tradition going back to the mid-19th century. There are no other early portraits of Peel with which to compare it, and the early history of the picture remains obscure. The portrait attributed to Lawrence, exhibited SKM, 1868 (386), purporting to represent the young Peel, is of equally doubtful authenticity.

Physical descriptionback to top

Healthy complexion, bluish eyes, light brown hair. Dressed in a white shirt, and dark brown coat. Background colour dark brown.

Provenanceback to top

Daniel Lyon (Lysons?); Vokins; Mathew James Higgins by 1856¹; H. V. Higgins (his son), purchased from him, 1891.

¹ See Dictionary of National Biography for Lysons and M. J. Higgins; information about the Higgins provenance is given in a letter from Mary Higgins of 14 June 1891 (NPG archives).



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 Robert Peel, 2nd Bt