Search the Collection

William Godwin

(1756-1836), Philosopher and novelist

Sitter in 13 portraits
Philosopher and novelist, Godwin was arguably the most famous English writer of the revolutionary period and the leading radical spokesman. In the Enquiry concerning Political Justice (1793) he detailed his optimistic belief that if human reason could be 'perfected' this would allow authoritarian laws and institutions to be overturned. Despite being ideologically opposed to marriage, he married the feminist writer Mary Wollstonecraft in 1797 when she was pregnant with their daughter, the future Mary Shelley. Godwin had a powerful influence on the Romantic poets, especially William Wordsworth and Percy Bysshe Shelley.

More on William Godwin: The Romantic Poets and their Circle book in our Shops | Jane Austen and her World book in our Shops

Tell us More

List Thumbnail

Thomas Holcroft; William Godwin

by Sir Thomas Lawrence
pencil with black and red chalk, 1794
NPG 6880

William Godwin

by James Northcote
oil on canvas, 1802
NPG 1236

William Godwin

by Henry William Pickersgill
oil on canvas, feigned oval, 1830
NPG 411

William Godwin

by William Brockedon
pencil and white and red chalk, 1832
NPG 2515(29)

'New morality; - or - the promis'd installment of the high-priest of the Theophilanthropes, with the homage of Leviathan and his suite'

by James Gillray, published by John Wright
etching, published 1 August 1798
NPG D13093

'New morality; - or - the promis'd installment of the high-priest of the Theophilanthropes, with the homage of Leviathan and his suite'

by James Gillray, published by John Wright
hand-coloured etching, published 1 August 1798
NPG D13094

William Godwin

by George Dawe, after James Northcote
mezzotint, (1802)
NPG D8387

William Godwin

by and published by George Dawe, after James Northcote
mezzotint, published 4 October 1802 (1802)
NPG D8414

William Godwin

by Miss Roberts, after Thomas Kearsley
stipple engraving, published 1821
NPG D2789

William Godwin

by George Dawe, published by Francis Graves & Co, and published by James Macrone, after James Northcote
mezzotint, published 1 June 1836 (1802)
NPG D8415

William Godwin

by George Dawe, after James Northcote
mezzotint, (1802)
NPG D20131

Use this image

William Godwin

by William Ridley, published by Vernor & Hood, after Sir Thomas Lawrence
stipple engraving, published 31 January 1805
NPG D15558

Use this image

William Godwin

by Daniel Maclise, published by James Fraser
lithograph, published 1873
NPG D15559

Use this image

Related People

Mary Jane Godwin (wife)
Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley (daughter)
Sir Percy Florence Shelley, 3rd Bt (grandson)
Mary Wollstonecraft (wife)

Groups

Place

Cambridgeshire

Tell us more back to top

Can you tell us more about this person? Spotted an error, information that is missing (a sitter’s life dates, occupation or family relationships, or a date of portrait for example) or do you know anything that we don't know? If you have information to share please complete the form below.

If you require information from us, please use our Archive enquiry service. You can buy a print of most illustrated portraits. Select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Buy a Print button. Prices start at £6 for unframed prints, £25 for framed prints. If you wish to license an image, please use our Rights and Images service.

Please note that we cannot provide valuations.

We digitise over 8,000 portraits a year and we cannot guarantee being able to digitise images that are not already scheduled.

* What can you tell us? (Help)

There are occasions when we are unsure of the identity of a sitter or artist, their life dates, occupation or have not recorded their family relationships. Sometimes we have not recorded the date of a portrait. Do you have specialist knowledge or a particular interest about any aspect of the portrait or sitter or artist that you can share with us? We would welcome any information that adds to and enhances our information and understanding about a particular portrait, sitter or artist.

Citation (Help)

How do you know this? Please could you let us know your source of information.

* Permission to publish (Privacy information)

The National Portrait Gallery will NOT use your information to contact you or store for any other purpose than to investigate or display your contribution. By ticking permission to publish you are indicating your agreement for your contribution to be shown on this collection item page. Please note your email address will not be displayed on the page nor will it be used for any marketing material or promotion of any kind.

Please ensure your comments are relevant and appropriate. Your contributions must be polite and with no intention of causing trouble. All contributions are moderated.

Denied Granted

* Your name (Why?)

* Email (Why?)

Contributions are moderated. We'll need your email address so that we can follow up on the information provided and contact you to let you know when your contribution has been published.

Tell us more

Can you tell us more about this person?

William Godwin