Sir Henry Taylor

1 portrait of Sir Henry Taylor

Sir Henry Taylor, by George Frederic Watts, circa 1868-1870 -NPG 1014 - © National Portrait Gallery, London

© National Portrait Gallery, London

Early Victorian Portraits Catalogue

Sir Henry Taylor

by George Frederic Watts
circa 1868-1870
24 in. x 20 in. (610 mm x 508 mm)
NPG 1014

This portraitback to top

In her catalogue Mrs Watts dates the portrait 1868-70, but the Grosvenor Gallery catalogue gives it as 1882, presumably on the authority of the artist. On the grounds of age, the latter date is more probable. An unfinished replica (or possibly a preliminary study) is in the Watts Gallery at Compton. Another full-length portrait of Taylor by Watts was exhibited RA, 1852 (480); for a review see Art Journal (1852), p 173. A drawing possibly related to it, showing Taylor without a beard, was exhibited VE, 1892 (364), lent by H. H. Cameron, sketched by L. G. Holland, 'Notebooks' (NPG archives), II, 26; this was presumably the drawing exhibited RA, 1851 (1144). Taylor was an old friend of the artist and a frequent guest at Little Holland House.

Referenceback to top

Watts
'Catalogue of Works by G. F. Watts', compiled by Mrs M. S. Watts (MS, Watts Gallery, Compton), II, 155.

Physical descriptionback to top

Bluish eyes, grey hair and beard. Dressed in a brown robe. Background composed of a green and brown floral pattern, possibly a tapestry.

Provenanceback to top

The artist, presented by him, 1895.

Exhibitionsback to top

Winter Exhibition, Grosvenor Gallery, 1882 (91); Glasgow, 1888; VE, 1892 (205); Rugby, 1894; Fourth Annual Exhibition, Royal Society of Portrait Painters, 1894 (110).


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.

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