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Edith Sitwell

(1887-1964), Poet

Dame Edith Sitwell

Sitter in 56 portraits
Sitwell's first volume of poems, The Mother, was published in 1915. In collaboration with Osbert, she wrote Twentieth Century Harlequinade (1916). Her early work was characterised by marked stylisation, striking images and unconventional rhythms. As editor of the poetry anthology Wheels (1916-21), she encouraged modernist writers and attracted critical attention. Façade, her poem set to William Walton's music, established her reputation. Her best-known work includes Gold Coast Customs (1929) and English Eccentrics (1933). Four wartime volumes, including Street Songs (1942) and The Shadow of Cain (1947), were inspired by the blitz and the atom bomb.

Explore the portrait of Edith Sitwell by Maurice Lambert (NPG 5801) from all angles

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Edith Sitwell, by Wyndham Lewis - NPG 4464

Edith Sitwell

by Wyndham Lewis
pencil, 1921
NPG 4464

Edith Sitwell, by Wyndham Lewis - NPG 4465

Edith Sitwell

by Wyndham Lewis
pencil and wash, 1923
NPG 4465

Edith Sitwell, by Maurice Lambert - NPG 5801

Edith Sitwell

by Maurice Lambert
aluminium head, 1985, based on a work of circa 1926-1927
On display in Room 25 on Floor 2 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG 5801

Edith Sitwell, by Cecil Beaton - NPG P868

Edith Sitwell

by Cecil Beaton
vintage bromide print, December 1926
NPG P868

Edith Sitwell, by Pavel Tchelitchew - NPG 5875

Edith Sitwell

by Pavel Tchelitchew
gouache with sand, 1927
NPG 5875

Edith Sitwell, by Cecil Beaton - NPG P867

Edith Sitwell

by Cecil Beaton
vintage bromide print, 1930
NPG P867

Edith Sitwell, by John Banting - NPG 5962

Edith Sitwell

by John Banting
gouache, circa 1944
NPG 5962

Edith Sitwell, by Rollie McKenna - NPG P1682

Edith Sitwell

by Rollie McKenna
bromide print, 1953
NPG P1682

Edith Sitwell, by Cecil Beaton - NPG x40360

Edith Sitwell

by Cecil Beaton
vintage bromide print, December 1926
NPG x40360

Edith Sitwell, by Cecil Beaton - NPG x40362

Edith Sitwell

by Cecil Beaton
bromide print, 1927
NPG x40362

Edith Sitwell, by Cecil Beaton - NPG x40361

Edith Sitwell

by Cecil Beaton
bromide print on white card mount, 1927
NPG x40361

Edith Sitwell, by Elliott & Fry - NPG x82160

Edith Sitwell

by Elliott & Fry
half-plate copy negative, 1929
NPG x82160

Edith Sitwell, by Cecil Beaton - NPG x40363

Edith Sitwell

by Cecil Beaton
bromide print on white card mount, 1930
NPG x40363

Edith Sitwell, by Cecil Beaton - NPG x40364

Edith Sitwell

by Cecil Beaton
bromide print on white card mount, 1930
NPG x40364

Edith Sitwell, by Cecil Beaton - NPG x40984

Edith Sitwell

by Cecil Beaton
bromide postcard print on album page, 1930
NPG x40984

Edith Sitwell, by Cecil Beaton - NPG x40985

Edith Sitwell

by Cecil Beaton
bromide postcard print on album page, 1930
NPG x40985

Edith Sitwell, by Cecil Beaton - NPG x40986

Edith Sitwell

by Cecil Beaton
bromide postcard print on album page, 1930
NPG x40986

Edith Sitwell, by Fox Photos Ltd - NPG x45497

Edith Sitwell

by Fox Photos Ltd
modern bromide print, 1931
NPG x45497

Edith Sitwell, by Howard Coster - NPG x10964

Edith Sitwell

by Howard Coster
10 x 8 inch film negative, 1937
NPG x10964

Edith Sitwell with Pavel Tchelitchew's 'Phenomena' at Tooth's Gallery, by Reg Sayers, for  Daily Herald - NPG x135107

Edith Sitwell with Pavel Tchelitchew's 'Phenomena' at Tooth's Gallery

by Reg Sayers, for Daily Herald
modern bromide print from original negative, 15 June 1938
NPG x135107

Sir Osbert Sitwell; Edith Sitwell, by Ruth Sondak - NPG x45790

Sir Osbert Sitwell; Edith Sitwell

by Ruth Sondak
bromide print, 8 November 1948
NPG x45790

Edith Sitwell, by Horst P. Horst - NPG x137762

Edith Sitwell

by Horst P. Horst
modern print from original negative, 1948
NPG x137762

Edith Sitwell, by Keystone Press Agency Ltd - NPG x194189

Edith Sitwell

by Keystone Press Agency Ltd
vintage print, November 1952
NPG x194189

Edith Sitwell; Marilyn Monroe, by George Silk - NPG x137375

Edith Sitwell; Marilyn Monroe

by George Silk
modern bromide print, January 1953
NPG x137375

Edith Sitwell, by BBC - NPG x125617

Edith Sitwell

by BBC
resin print, 1959
NPG x125617

Edith Sitwell, by Jane Bown - NPG x28632

Edith Sitwell

by Jane Bown
bromide print, 1959
NPG x28632

Edith Sitwell, by Mark Gerson - NPG x88228

Edith Sitwell

by Mark Gerson
modern bromide print, May 1962
NPG x88228

Sir Sacheverell Sitwell, 6th Bt; Sir Osbert Sitwell; Edith Sitwell, by Unknown photographer - NPG x45791

Sir Sacheverell Sitwell, 6th Bt; Sir Osbert Sitwell; Edith Sitwell

by Unknown photographer
modern bromide print, 9 October 1962
NPG x45791

Edith Sitwell, by Mark Gerson - NPG x46700

Edith Sitwell

by Mark Gerson
bromide fibre print, May 1962
NPG x46700

The Sitwells, by London Express News and Feature Services - NPG x199008

The Sitwells

by London Express News and Feature Services
bromide press print, 9 October 1962
NPG x199008

Edith Sitwell, by Cecil Beaton - NPG x14209

Edith Sitwell

by Cecil Beaton
bromide print on white card mount, 1962
NPG x14209

Edith Sitwell, by Cecil Beaton - NPG x40366

Edith Sitwell

by Cecil Beaton
bromide print, July 1962
NPG x40366

Edith Sitwell, by Derek Parker - NPG x125615

Edith Sitwell

by Derek Parker
vintage bromide print, circa 1963
NPG x125615

Edith Sitwell, by Derek Parker - NPG x125616

Edith Sitwell

by Derek Parker
vintage bromide print, circa 1963
NPG x125616

Web image not currently available

Edith Sitwell

by Howard Coster
nitrate negative, 1934
NPG x4296

Web image not currently available

Edith Sitwell

by Howard Coster
10 x 8 inch film negative, 1937
NPG x23928

Web image not currently available

Edith Sitwell

by Howard Coster
10 x 8 inch film negative, 1937
NPG x23929

Web image not currently available

Edith Sitwell

by Howard Coster
10 x 8 inch film negative, 1937
NPG x23930

Web image not currently available

Edith Sitwell

by Howard Coster
10 x 8 inch film negative, 1937
NPG x23931

Web image not currently available

Edith Sitwell

by Howard Coster
10 x 8 inch film negative, 1937
NPG x23932

Web image not currently available

Edith Sitwell

by Howard Coster
10 x 8 inch film negative, 1937
NPG x23933

Web image not currently available

Edith Sitwell

by Howard Coster
10 x 8 inch film negative, 1937
NPG x23934

Web image not currently available

Edith Sitwell

by Howard Coster
10 x 8 inch film negative, 1937
NPG x23935

Image currently unavailable owing to copyright restrictions

Edith Sitwell; Sir Osbert Sitwell

by Bill Brandt
bromide print on card mount, 1945
NPG x22477

Image currently unavailable owing to copyright restrictions

Edith Sitwell

by Bill Brandt
bromide print on card mount, 1945
NPG x22476

Image currently unavailable owing to copyright restrictions

Edith Sitwell

by Bill Brandt
bromide print, 1945
NPG x9231

Web image not currently available

Edith Sitwell

by Mark Gerson
bromide print, May 1962
NPG x17973

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