Search the Collection

Karl Friedrich Abel

(1723-1787), Composer and concert impresario

Sitter in 5 portraits
One of the last of the great viola da gamba virtuosi, the German musician Abel arrived in London in 1759. He became famous for the subscription concerts at the Hanover Square rooms which he organised with Johann Christian Bach.

Tell us More

List Thumbnail

Karl Friedrich Abel

by Thomas Gainsborough
black and white chalk with stump on blue paper, circa 1765
NPG 5081

Karl Friedrich Abel

by Thomas Gainsborough
oil on canvas, circa 1765
NPG 5947

Karl Friedrich Abel

by John Nixon
pen and ink and wash, 1787
NPG 5178

Karl Friedrich Abel

by William Nelson Gardiner, published by Edward Harding, after John Nixon
etching, published July 1787 (1787)
NPG D966

Karl Friedrich Abel

by William Nelson Gardiner, published by Edward Harding, after John Nixon
etching, published July 1787 (1787)
NPG D14733

Groups

Place

Germany

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.

Thematic collections

Tell us more

Can you tell us more about this person?

Karl Friedrich Abel

Thanks for Liking