Timeline

1820

George Scharf is born on 16 December 1820.

London population is 1,378,000.

A slightly old crumpled baptism certificate
Scharf's certificate of baptism, 1821 (NPG7/3/6/8 © National Portrait Gallery, London).

1831

Scharf makes his first sketches.

Charles Darwin embarks on his historic journey aboard the HMS Beagle.

Two sheets of a handwritten letter
Letter from Charles Darwin to George Johan Scharf, undated (NPG7/3/7/2/2/6 © National Portrait Gallery, London).

1838

Scharf enrols for the Royal Academy Schools.

1840

Scharf accompanies Sir Charles Fellows on his expedition to Asia Minor.

Queen Victoria marries Prince Albert of Saxe Coburg-Gotha.

A watercolour of camels and buildings
Scharf's watercolour of camels at Smyrna, February 1840 (NPG7/3/4/1/4 © National Portrait Gallery, London)

1843

Scharf accompanies Sir Charles Fellows on a second trip to Asia Minor.

1848

Scharf is nominated 'special constable' responsible for preservation of public peace in the British Museum.

Scharf witnesses 'Monster Rally' of Chartists held on Kennington Common in London.

A slightly dog-eared document with a crest at the top; it is dark and difficult to read
Scharf's nomination for the post of Special Constable, 1848 (NPG7/3/6/8 © National Portrait Gallery, London).
A long handwritten diary entry with the heading Monday 10
Scharf's diary entry recording the Chartists rally in Kennington, 10 April 1882 (NPG7/3/1/39 © National Portrait Gallery, London)

1850-1851

Scharf identifies a fragment of Parthenon frieze at Marbury Hall and visits the Great Exhibition.
The Great Exhibition opens in May 1851.

1854

The Great Exhibition Building - Crystal Palace - is moved and re-erected in an enlarged form at Sydenham in south London (Scharf helps with setting up the Greek and Roman displays.)

A book page headed The Crystal palace
Page 1 of the programme of the opening of Crystal Palace (NPG7/2/1/7 © National Portrait Gallery, London)
Two open book pages
Pages 2-3 of the programme of the opening of Crystal Palace (NPG7/2/1/7 © National Portrait Gallery, London)

1857

Scharf acts as an 'Art Secretary' to the Art Treasures Exhibition in Manchester and is appointed Secretary to the newly founded National Portrait Gallery.

Illustrated ticket for a private exhibition view addressed to Scharf
Scharf's admission ticket to the Art Treasures Exhibition (NPG7/2/2/3 © National Portrait Gallery, London)

1866-1868

Scharf helps to organize the National Portrait Exhibitions in South Kensington Museums.

Benjamin Disraeli becomes Prime Minister.

A long handwritten diary entry with the heading Friday 5
Scharf's diary entry recording Disraeli's oratory skills, 5 February 1875 (NPG7/3/1/32 © National Portrait Gallery, London)

1870

Scharf moves to 8 Ashley Place and National Portrait Gallery moves to South Kensington.

Double page spread from a sketch book with sketches of buildings and annotations
Scharf's sketches of the view from 8 Ashley Place, 1884 (NPG7/3/4/2/123 © National Portrait Gallery, London)

1878

Scharf participates in experiments with the telephone at the Royal Society.

Cleopatra’s Needle erected at Victoria Embankment.

A long handwritten diary entry with the heading Wednesday 1
Scharf's diary entry, recording experiments with the telephone, 1 May 1878 (NPG7/3/1/35)
Double page spread of a sketch book with a sketch of an obelisk in a wooden frame and annotations
Scharf's sketch of Cleopatra's Needle, 1878 (NPG7/3/4/2/112 © National Portrait Gallery, London)

1888-1890

Scharf helps to organise Stuart and Tudor exhibitions at the New Gallery, Regent Street. Funds for the new National Portrait Gallery building donated by W.H. Alexander.

Workers strike and form first trade unions in London.

A long handwritten diary entry with the heading Memoranda
Scharf's diary entry, recording a 'Labour' demonstration, 1 May 1890 (NPG7/3/1/47 © National Portrait Gallery, London)

1892

Scharf’s services to the Gallery extended, his health deteriorates.

Death and funeral of Lord Alfred Tennyson.

A long handwritten diary entry with the heading Wednesday 12; TENNYSON FUNERAL is handwritten at the top of the page
Scharf's diary entry, recording the funeral of Alfred, Lord Tennyson, 12 Oct 1892 (NPG7/3/1/49 © National Portrait Gallery, London)

1895

Scharf dies on 19 April 1895 and is buried at the Brompton Cemetery.
London population reaches 6,000,000.