Michael Faraday
(1791-1867), ScientistEarly Victorian Portraits Catalogue Entry
Sitter in 28 portraits
Physicist and chemist; assistant to Humphry Davy; liquefied chlorine and other gases, and discovered benzene, 1825; discovered electro-magnetic induction, 1831, his work on electricity providing the foundation of modern electrical applications; a brilliant lecturer and one of the greatest of all experimental scientists.
Watch a film clip on the sitter from the BBC Archive in the Media section below
by William Brockedon
black chalk, 1831
NPG 2515(24)
by Thomas Phillips
oil on canvas, 1841-1842
On display in Room 27 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG 269
Michael Faraday; William Thomas Brande
by Antoine Claudet
half-plate daguerreotype, circa 1846
NPG P740
by Sir Thomas Brock, after John Henry Foley
marble bust, 1886, based on a work of 1877
NPG 748
by Herbert Watkins
albumen carte-de-visite, 1850s
NPG x13927
by Maull & Polyblank
albumen print, arched top, 1857
NPG x13932
by Maull & Polyblank
albumen print, arched top, published October 1857
NPG Ax7281
by John Watkins
albumen carte-de-visite, 1860s
NPG Ax17794
by London Stereoscopic & Photographic Company
albumen carte-de-visite, 1860s
NPG x13931
by John Watkins
albumen carte-de-visite, 1860s
NPG Ax18201
by John & Charles Watkins
albumen carte-de-visite, 1860s
NPG x13928
by John Watkins
albumen carte-de-visite, 1860s
NPG Ax16267
by McLean & Haes
albumen carte-de-visite, 1863
NPG Ax11937
by William Walker & Sons
albumen carte-de-visite, 1863
NPG Ax11953
by James Valentine
albumen carte-de-visite, 1863
NPG x45093
by Ernest Edwards, published by Lovell Reeve & Co
albumen print, published 1863
NPG Ax13842
published by Hughes & Edmonds
albumen print, published 1876
NPG Ax132901
after Daniel Maclise
pen and ink, (early 1830s)
NPG D34567
by Samuel Cousins, published by Paul and Dominic Colnaghi & Co, after Henry William Pickersgill
mezzotint, published 1 February 1830
NPG D36649
by Samuel Cousins, published by Paul and Dominic Colnaghi & Co, after Henry William Pickersgill
mezzotint, published 1 February 1830
NPG D36650
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.