John Arthur Roebuck

This portraitback to top

The identification and provenance were provided by the vendor in a letter of 17 June 1916 (NPG archives); on comparison with other portraits of Roebuck, NPG 1777 appears to be rightly named. It was said to have been painted by G. F. Watts, a very dubious attribution. A portrait of Jeremy Bentham, with the same provenance, and also said to be by Watts, was offered at the same time, but declined.

Physical descriptionback to top

Pink complexion, light brown eyes and hair. Dressed in a green(?) neck-tie, white stock and shirt, yellow-brown waistcoat, and brown coat with darker brown velvet collar. Seated in a reddish chair. Background colour brown.

Provenanceback to top

The sitter; presented by him to Dr Black; Dr Campbell; by descent to Mr Rayner; F. H. Clarke, purchased from him, 1916.


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 John Arthur Roebuck