Sir Humphry Davy, Bt
(1778-1829), Natural philosopherRegency Portraits Catalogue Entry
Sitter in 20 portraits
Professor of Chemistry at the Royal Institution, 1802-13. Davy undertook groundbreaking work with gases and electrolysis and in 1807 he demonstrated the existence of potassium, sodium and chlorine with a galvanic battery. He also experimented with diamond combustion and invented the miner's safety lamp in 1815, becoming President of the Royal Society 1820-7. From his close friends Wordsworth, Coleridge and Southey he absorbed the concept of 'Romantic genius', to which he aspired. With charm and entrepreneurial flair, he joined a new breed of celebrity scientists. His experiments at the Royal Institution were so charismatic that they became social events. Witnessing these, Mary Shelley took Davy as the model for Dr Frankenstein, the scientist who holds a terrifying secret of life-giving power.
More on Sir Humphry Davy: The Romantic Poets and their Circle book in our Shops
Watch a film clip on the sitter from the BBC Archive in the Media section below
by Henry Howard
oil on canvas, 1803
On display in Room 18 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG 4591
by John Jackson
watercolour, circa 1820
NPG 1794
by Thomas Phillips
oil on canvas, 1821
NPG 2546
after Sir Thomas Lawrence
oil on canvas, based on a work of circa 1821
NPG 1573
Men of Science Living in 1807-8
by Sir John Gilbert, and Frederick John Skill, and William Walker, and Elizabeth Walker (née Reynolds)
pencil and wash, 1858-1862
NPG 1075
Engraving after 'Men of Science Living in 1807-8'
by George Zobel, and William Walker
engraving, 1862
NPG 1075a
Key to engraving after 'Men of Science Living in 1807-8'
by William Walker
engraving, 1862
NPG 1075b
by Albert Bruce-Joy
plaster cast of medallion, 1876
NPG 1273
by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching, published 23 May 1802
NPG D13036
by Samuel William Reynolds, after Thomas Phillips
mezzotint
NPG D1731
by Samuel William Reynolds, after Thomas Phillips
mezzotint, published 1822 (1821)
NPG D1732
by William Henry Worthington, published by Agnew & Zanetti, and published by Rudolph Ackermann, after James Lonsdale
line engraving, published March 1827
NPG D34825
by William Henry Worthington, published by Agnew & Zanetti, and published by Rudolph Ackermann, after James Lonsdale
line engraving, published March 1827
NPG D34826
by G.R. Newton, after Sir Thomas Lawrence
line engraving, published 1830
NPG D9103
by and published by William Walker, after John Jackson
stipple engraving, published 1 June 1830 (circa 1820)
NPG D34823
by and published by William Walker, after John Jackson
stipple engraving, published 1 June 1830 (circa 1820)
NPG D20065
by William Henry Worthington, after Sir Thomas Lawrence
line engraving, published 1831
NPG D34824
by Charles Turner, after Henry Howard
mezzotint, published 1835
NPG D1729
by Charles Turner, after Henry Howard
mezzotint, published 1835
NPG D1730
by Samuel William Reynolds, published by and after Thomas Phillips
mezzotint, published 1822 (1821)
NPG D20426
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.