Holland House set
63 People in sitter grouping:
Holland House, a grand Jacobean mansion in Kensington built c.1605, was home to the Holland House set, which centred on its residents, Henry Richard Fox, 3rd Baron Holland and his wife Elizabeth Vassall Fox, Lady Holland. From 1797, until the death of Lady Holland in 1840, which had been closely preceded by the death of the Baron, the Holland's hosted an extraordinary group of politicians, writers, poets, historians and doctors- brought in to combat the Baron's extreme hypochondria. Membership of the set required a certain amount of talent and aristocratic breeding, and it became home to the key British and foreign intellectuals of the day, who gathered to dine and discuss history, literature and politics. With no strict religious agenda, the most common bond and topic of conversation at the evenings was often Whiggist politics and developments in government. The set was celebrated, long after its end, as Britain's closest thing to a continental salon, representing a strong political and social force.

John Russell, 6th Duke of Bedford
1766-1839Landowner; Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland
Sitter associated with 26 portraits

Frederick Ponsonby, 3rd Earl of Bessborough
1758-1844British peer; Lord of the Admiralty 1782-83
Sitter in 4 portraits

John William Ponsonby, 4th Earl of Bessborough
1781-1847Politician; MP for several constituencies
Sitter associated with 37 portraits

Henry Brougham, 1st Baron Brougham and Vaux
1778-1868Lord Chancellor
Sitter associated with 280 portraits

George Howard, 6th Earl of Carlisle
1773-1848Politician; Lord Privy Seal
Sitter associated with 5 portraits

George William Frederick Howard, 7th Earl of Carlisle
1802-1864Viceroy of Ireland
Sitter associated with 79 portraits

George William Frederick Villiers, 4th Earl of Clarendon
1800-1870Diplomat and politician; Foreign Secretary and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
Sitter in 16 portraits

General, poet and politician; MP for Tavistock and Bedfordshire
Sitter associated with 7 portraits

Charles William Wentworth Fitzwilliam, 3rd Earl Fitzwilliam
1786-1857Politician; MP for several constituencies
Sitter in 4 portraits