Agnes Strickland

Inscriptionback to top

Inscribed in ink in the artist's hand on a damaged label on the back of the stretcher, referring to its exhibition at the R A: ... [illegible, presumably title]/by John Hayes/at Frith Street Soho Sq^re
Inscribed in pencil on the same label in another and later hand: 28 Great Russell Street/Bedford Square

This portraitback to top

The portrait was engraved by F. C. Lewis, published H. Colburn, 1848 (example in British Museum), for Agnes Strickland's Lives of the Queens of England; on the engraving it is stated that the portrait was painted in June 1846. Agnes Strickland's sister, Mrs Gwillym, wrote of the portrait: 'It is so dearly valued by all her family as an exact resemblance of her thirty years ago' (letter of 2 October 1874, NPG archives). Hayes' address given in the 1847 RA catalogue was Frith Street, Soho.

Physical descriptionback to top

Healthy complexion, brown eyes, black hair. Dressed in a black or dark blue velvet dress, over a white undergarment, showing at the sleeves and neck. Pearl brooches at the sleeves, and a pearl bracelet. Holding a rolled piece of paper, with gold and coloured letters, and an elaborate illuminated border, possibly some kind of testimonial. Red curtain at right, and a grey, stone pillar. Suggestion of landscape at left, with an orange streak above. Rest of sky various tones of blue and grey.

Provenanceback to top

The sitter, bequeathed by her, 1875.

Exhibitionsback to top

RA, 1847 (535).


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 Agnes Strickland