Cosmopolitan Club
76 People in sitter grouping:
The Cosmopolitan Club was open for its members on Wednesdays and Saturdays only, from 10pm till 2am between 1852-1902. In 1854 it moved location from 49 Bond Street to Berkeley square, which had previously been used as studios by artists George Frederick Watts and Henry Wyndham Philips. The eclectic members included literary figures such as Francis Turner Palgrave, playwright and editor of Punch, Tom Taylor and civil servants. On occasion, the rooms were used for exhibitions, displaying paintings that had been refused by the Royal Academy. Although it wasn't defined by a particular political affiliation, many of its members were liberal, with several serving in Gladstone's cabinet. Membership was limited to a total of 150 members but they were encouraged to bring along interesting guests, which added to the atmosphere of conviviality and conversation. Henry James described it as 'a talking club, extremely select' and in 1865, King Edward VII became a member.

Henry Austin Bruce, 1st Baron Aberdare
1815-1895Politician, Home Secretary and Lord President of the Council; ex-officio Trustee of the National Portrait Gallery
Sitter in 12 portraits

Chichester Samuel Parkinson-Fortescue, Baron Carlingford and 2nd Baron Clermont
1823-1898Politician; MP for County Louth; ex-officio Trustee of the National Portrait Gallery
Sitter in 18 portraits

Frederick Temple Hamilton-Temple-Blackwood, 1st Marquess of Dufferin and Ava
1826-1902Diplomat and administrator; viceroy of India
Sitter in 21 portraits

Industrialist, philanthropist and Liberal politician; MP for Bradford; son of William Forster
Sitter in 23 portraits

Frederic Leighton, Baron Leighton
1830-1896Painter; President of the Royal Academy; ex-officio Trustee of the National Portrait Gallery
Sitter in 59 portraits | Artist associated with 8 portraits

George Frederick Samuel Robinson, 1st Marquess of Ripon and 3rd Earl de Grey
1827-1909Viceroy of India; ex-officio Trustee of the National Portrait Gallery
Sitter in 22 portraits

Prime Minister and writer; Trustee of the National Portrait Gallery
Sitter associated with 321 portraits

George Joachim Goschen, 1st Viscount Goschen
1831-1907Financier and Liberal politician; MP for City of London and Chancellor of the Exchequer
Sitter in 38 portraits