Self-portrait
by Matthew or Matthias Darly
etching,published 1771

Dictionary of National Biography (London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1901) re-bound in 73 folio volumes, extra-illustrated throughout with 7,000 engraved portraits, plus 10 boxes of additional engravings. The collection is particularly rich in 18th and 19th century prints. The volumes also contain a number of drawings, some of them original portraits of some consequence. The collection was compiled by the 20th century print collector J.H. MacDonnell and his manuscript index of sitters is bound in a separate volume. Purchased at Sotheby's, 1966, with the aid of the Friends of the National Libraries and the Pilgrim Trust.

See Friends of the National Libraries Annual Report (1966).

Archive Engravings Collection 

9 chromolithograph caricatures of members of the Marlborough Club by Carlo Pellegrini (1838-1889). Pellegrini, who worked under the name 'Ape' or 'Singe', was the chief contributor to Vanity Fair between 1869 and 1888. In 1871 he was commissioned to produce caricatures of the 400 members of the Marlborough Club, which had recently been established by the Prince of Wales and his set. However, he completed only 20 portraits before he dropped the project in 1873, including, amongst those represented in this group, the Prince of Wales's brother Alfred Ernest Duke of Edinburgh (1844-1900) and Edward Prince of Saxe-Weimar (1832-1902). Acquired in 1974.

Catalogued and searchable on the website at www.npg.org.uk/live/search

Archive Engravings Collection

20 gouache caricatures of industrialists and public figures by caricaturist and painter Fred May. May's earliest drawings were produced for the North Eastern Daily Gazette and his first cartoons for the Tatler were sent home in 1917 from the trenches where he was serving as an infantry officer. He continued to work for the Tatler until his death in 1976. Included in this group are caricatures of Sir Richard Burbidge (1872-1945), Chairman of British Home Stores and Harrods, Sir Isidore Salmon (1876-1941), Chairman and Managing Director of Lyons & Co Ltd, and shipping magnate Thomas Rome (1852-1938). Purchased from the artist's son Phil May, 1976 and 1997.

Catalogued and searchable on the website at www.npg.org.uk/live/search

Archive Drawings Collection

81 illustrated sheet music covers depicting popular entertainers from the second half of the 19th century. The collection includes colour lithographic portraits of music hall performers George Leybourne (1842-1884) and Marie Lloyd (1870-1922). Given by John Hall, 1972.

Archive Engravings Collection 

20 cut paper silhouettes made by Captain Harry Lawrence Oakley between 1920 and 1956. The collection includes literary, musical, artistic and political figures of the period. Oakley produced profiles for a variety of purposes, including recruiting posters and decorative advertisements. The Bystander featured a series of his likenesses during the First World War, at which time he cut a full-length figure of the then Prince of Wales (afterwards Duke of Windsor) as an officer in the Grenadier Guards, which is now in the Gallery's primary collection (NPG 4534). Given by Mrs Welch, 1968.

Catalogued and searchable on the website at www.npg.org.uk/live/search

Archive Silhouettes Collection 

59 cartoons of early 20th century political figures, mainly pen and ink, some gouache, drawn by Bernard Partridge for Punch magazine between 1902 and 1942. This group of cartoons was acquired in connection with the purchase of drawings for the Gallery's primary collection from the artist's widow Lady Partridge. Given by the National Art Collections Fund, 1949.

Catalogued and searchable on the website at www.npg.org.uk/live/search

Archive Drawings Collection 

5 bust length cut paper silhouettes by Benjamin Pearce of St Leonards. This group date from the mid 19th century and includes profiles of Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington (1769-1852), Victoria Duchess of Kent and Strathearn (1786-1861), mother of Queen Victoria, and Napoleon III, Emperor of France (1808-1873). Acquired early 20th century.

Catalogued and searchable on the website at www.npg.org.uk/live/search

Archive Silhouettes Collection

Album of the Lancashire antiquarian Dorning Rasbotham, containing 8 portraits, including one of John Byrom (1692-1763) who devised and taught a system of shorthand in Manchester. Amongst the portraits are a few pen and ink drawings as well as several etchings and engravings. Purchased at Christie's, 1975.

Catalogued and searchable on the website at www.npg.org.uk/live/search

Archive Engravings Collection 

32 chromolithographs and 50 cigarette cards depicting eminent men of the early 20th century by the caricaturist and illustrator Alick Ritchie. Ritchie was a commercial artist who drew for several magazines including the Bystander, Sketch and Vanity Fair. The chromolithographs in this collection were published between 1905 and 1913 and include cartoons of businessman and founder of Selfridges, Harry Gordon Selfridge (1858-1947) and actor-manager Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree (1852-1917). The cigarette cards date to the inter-war period and include the racehorse owner Aga Khan III (1877-1957) and cricketer Sir Jack Hobbs (1882-1963). The chromolithographs were purchased at Phillips, 1983, and the cigarette cards were given by Terence Pepper, 1992 and 2003.

Catalogued and searchable on the website at www.npg.org.uk/live/search

Archive Engravings Collection

2 albums of ephemera titled 'Character sketches' (1900-1926) and 'Commonplace Book' (1928-1945), belonging to the artist Fred Roe. The albums contain menus (including menus for dinners at the Royal Academy of Arts and Guildhall during the 1920s and 1930s), invitations to receptions and theatre programmes on which Roe has sketched impromptu informal portraits, figure and group studies. Given by the artist's grand-daughter Mrs Maynard, 1994.

Archive Drawings Collection 

Norah Lindsay (née Bourke)
after a drawing probably by Marion Margaret Violet, Duchess of Rutland
lithograph

52 lithographs of contemporary figures after portrait drawings by Violet Lindsay, later Duchess of Rutland. Violet Lindsay was a renowned amateur portrait artist during the late 19th century and attracted many famous sitters. This collection of lithographs, published mostly between 1886 and 1899, includes such eminent figures as Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936), Cecil Rhodes (1853-1902) and the Polish pianist Ignacy Paderewski (1860-1941). Purchased from Gillian Pye (Weinreb), 1971.

Archive Engravings Collection

93 mezzotints or fragments of mezzotints, mainly portraits of eminent figures but including a few subjects, by the early 19th century engraver William Say. Some of the prints have been heightened with white and pencil. All of the mezzotints have been cropped or cut into sections and mounted into an album. The leaves on which they are pasted have been annotated with sitter names and subject titles. A typescript index of sitters is included at the front of the album. Formerly in the collection of the engraver's son Frederick Richard Say (fl. 1826-1858). Given by Mrs Masterman, 1963.

Catalogued and searchable on the website at www.npg.org.uk/live/search

See www.npg.org.uk/live/dcmsprint.asp

Archive Engravings Collection 

182 political caricature etchings by James Sayers, published between 1782 and 1808. In accordance with his allegiance to the Tory William Pitt (1759-1806), Sayers directed his gift for characterization and satire against Charles James Fox (1749-1806) and his Coalition Ministry. His prints were evidently a source of reference for James Gillray and others. This collection includes an album of etchings selected for his friend Robert Appleyard by Sayers himself in 1818. Purchased, 1904.

Catalogued and searchable on the website at www.npg.org.uk/live/search

See www.npg.org.uk/live/dcmsprint.asp

Archive Engravings Collection 

230 pocket sketch books of Sir George Scharf, Director of the NPG, containing meticulous annotated pencil drawings of portraits held in private collections, plus occasional views and interiors of the great houses he visited. Amongst the pocket books are early travel sketchbooks containing watercolour views relating to Scharf's travels in Asia Minor and Europe. The main series of sketchbooks, covering the years 1856 to 1894, is divided between his private sketch books (nos. 1-133) and official trustees sketch books (nos. 1-43 plus special collections). This collection also includes approximately 700 pencil tracings of portraits. The sketchbooks have been indexed by sitter and artist and typescript copies are bound in separate volumes. A microfilm copy of the sketchbooks, with index, was published by World Microfilms.

Archive Drawings Collection 

30 ink, wash, crayon and pencil drawings of mainly literary and theatrical personalities of the 1920s and 1930s by cartoonist Robert Sherriffs. His caricature of John Barrymore in the Bystander led to a series of drawings of celebrities in the Sketch. He also drew for the Radio Times and after the war he became film caricaturist for Punch. This collection covers the years from 1926 to 1939 and includes drawings of literary figures John Galsworthy (1867-1933) and Compton Mackenzie (1883-1972), Carry-On actor Charles Hawtrey (1914-1988), and actresses Gladys Cooper (1888-1971) and Gertrude Lawrence (1898-1952). The majority of the collection was purchased from Stephen Selby, 1978.

Catalogued and searchable on the website at www.npg.org.uk/live/search

Archive Drawings Collection

486 mezzotints by John Smith, many after portraits by Sir Godfrey Kneller. Smith was the leading exponent of mezzotint production in Britain during the late 17th century and this set, bound in 3 volumes, is believed to have been assembled by him towards the end of his career for sale to a collector. Formerly in the collection of the Peper Harrow Library, Earl of Midleton. Purchased at Hodgson & Co., 1944.

Catalogued and searchable on the website at www.npg.org.uk/live/search

See Antony Griffiths Early Mezzotint Publishing in England - I: John Smith 1652-1743 Print Quarterly vol. VI (1989) p. 248

Archive Engravings Collection 

215 portraits, mainly engravings but also a few watercolour drawings and oil sketches, of local gentry and other notable figures associated with the county of Somerset. The collection is contained in a portfolio titled 'Somerset Worthies' and includes 19 portraits of the bishops of Bath and Wells and others relating to members of the Acland family. Purchased from Leonard Phillips Rare Books & Manuscripts, 1947.

Archive Engravings Collection 

60 watercolour copies of portraits of Speakers of the House of Commons from Thomas More (1478-1535) to the Rt. Hon. Charles Manners Sutton (1780-1845) and covering the years 1523 to 1817. The watercolours may have been produced by the early 19th century landscape and portrait painter T. Athow (fl. 1806-1822). The collection is bound in an album, at the front of which is a printed list of Speakers that has been annotated to indicate which are represented. Purchased from Frederick W. Steward, 1895.

Archive Drawings Collection 

Sarah Bernhardt
by Percy Frederick Seaton Spence
pencil, 1891

34 portrait sketches of mainly European and Australian theatrical personalities, sketched in Sydney by Australian artist Percy Spence during the early 1890s. The sketches are contained in an album and each has been autographed by the sitter. Given by the artist, 1899.

Archive Drawings Collection 

61 portraits of Bloomsbury figures and members of the Strachey family, painted in oil on board by amateur artist Ray Strachey (sister-in-law of Lytton Strachey). The collection includes a number of self-portraits. Strachey started to paint her family and friends after she was given a box of oil paints at the age of forty. Given by the artist's daughter Barbara Halpern, 1989.

Catalogued and searchable on the website at www.npg.org.uk/live/search

See Elizabeth P. Richardson A Bloomsbury iconography (Winchester: St Paul's Bibliographies, 1989), pp. 265-66.

Archive Paintings Collection 

73 mezzotints published by Richard Tompson published between 1678 and 1679, mainly after portraits by Sir Peter Lely and some after Sir Anthony Van Dyck and Sir Godfrey Kneller. Tompson and fellow print publisher Alexander Browne were two of the first and most important publishers of high quality mezzotints in Britain. They were also business partners as art auctioneers from around 1674 onwards. Acquired from various sources.

Catalogued and searchable on the website at www.npg.org.uk/live/search

See www.npg.org.uk/live/mellon.asp

See also www.npg.org.uk/live/mellontompson.asp

See also Antony Griffiths 'Early mezzotint publishing in England - II: Peter Lely, Tompson and Browne' Print Quarterly vol. VII (1990), pp. 131-45.

Archive Engravings Collection

wife of Dawson Turner, 1775-1858

51etched portraits of members of her family and circle of friends by amateur artist Mrs Mary Dawson Turner, wife of the antiquary Dawson Turner (1775-1858). These etchings were published between 1804 and 1823. Purchased from Suckling & Co., 1963.

Archive Engravings Collection 

54 pencil, pen and ink, and gouache caricature drawings by Sir Leslie Ward, mostly dated between 1859 and 1879. Ward, who worked under the name 'Spy' is best known as understudy and successor to Carlo Pellegrini otherwise known as 'Ape' (1839-1889) on Vanity Fair. This collection complements a set of 190 original Vanity Fair cartoons by Ward in the Gallery's primary collection. Purchased at Sotheby's, 1971.

Catalogued and searchable on the website at www.npg.org.uk/live/search

Archive Drawings Collection 

Sketchbook of Louisa, Marchoiness of Waterford containing 74 remaining leaves of watercolour and pencil portraits, interiors and views, including scenes at Highcliffe Castle, and several pages of manuscript commonplaces and quotations. The sketchbook covers the years 1887 and 1888. Formely in the collections of Adelaide (nee Talbot) Countess Brownlow, Hon. Marion de Saumarez, and Sir David Piper (Director of the NPG). Given by Lady Piper, widow of Sir David Piper, 1994.

Part catalogued and searchable on the website at www.npg.org.uk/live/search

Archive Drawings Collection 

London past and present by Henry B. Wheatley (London: John Murray, 1891) re-bound in 9 folio volumes and extra-illustrated throughout with 1,900 portrait and topographical engravings by the MP, barrister and former trustee of the NPG, Sir Herbert Henry Raphael, 1st Bt (1859-1924). Given by Sir Herbert Henry Raphael, early 20th century.

Part catalogued and searchable on the website at www.npg.org.uk/live/search

See www.npg.org.uk/live/dcmsprint.asp

Archive Engravings Collection 

15 mezzotints, mostly proofs before letters, published by Samuel Woodburn, 1811-1816. The collection comprises portraits of 17th century royal figures after earlier engravings and include King James I's eldest son Henry Prince of Wales (1594-1612), King Charles I (1600-1649) when Prince of Wales, and soldier and patron of science Prince Rupert, Count Palatine (1619-1682). Acquired early 20th century.

Catalogued and searchable on the website at www.npg.org.uk/live/search

Archive Engravings Collection

47 caricature drawings, mostly watercolour, of society personalities and celebrities from the late 1920s and early 1930s by Anthony Wysard. During the 1930s Wysard contributed caricatures to a number of popular magazines and papers including the Tatler, Strand, Harper's Bazaar and Daily Express. Purchased at Phillips, 1990.

Catalogued and searchable on the website at www.npg.org.uk/live/search

Archive Drawings Collection 

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