The Gallery holds the most extensive collection of portraits in the world. Search over 215,000 works, 150,000 of which are illustrated from the 16th Century to the present day.

Advanced Collection search

Search the Collection

Sir Richard Grenville

(1542-1591), Naval commander

Sitter in 5 portraits
A naval commander and cousin of Walter Ralegh, Grenville was put in charge of Ralegh's plan to colonise north America, and took the first settlers to Roanoke. In 1591 he took command of the queen's ship the Revenge on a raiding expedition to the Azores, but died from wounds received fighting fifteen Spanish ships for fifteen hours single-handed. The event was immortalised by the poet Lord Alfred Tennyson in Revenge: A Ballad of the Fleet (1880).

Tell us More

 Like voting
is closed

Thanks for Liking

Please Like other favourites!
If they inspire you please support our work.

Make a donation

List Thumbnail

Sir Richard Grenville, after Unknown artist - NPG 1612

Sir Richard Grenville

after Unknown artist
oil on canvas, 17th century, based on a work of 1571
NPG 1612

Sir Richard Grenville, by Simon de Passe - NPG D2810

Sir Richard Grenville

by Simon de Passe
line engraving, published 1620
NPG D2810

Sir Richard Grenville, by Simon de Passe - NPG D5921

Sir Richard Grenville

by Simon de Passe
line engraving, published 1620
NPG D5921

Sir Richard Grenville, by Unknown artist - NPG D34928

Sir Richard Grenville

by Unknown artist
stipple engraving, late 18th-early 19th century
NPG D34928

Sir Richard Grenville, published by Edward Harding - NPG D25423

Sir Richard Grenville

published by Edward Harding
stipple engraving, published April 1802
NPG D25423

Category

Links

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?close

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.

Citationclose

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

* Permission to publish (Privacy information)
Privacy Informationclose

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.

Your Emailclose

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.

Play

Tudor and Elizabethan matching pairs

Test your memory by playing our matching pairs game. Three levels of difficulty make it fun for the whole family.

Test your skill

Regency familiar faces

Rearrange tiles to uncover sitters from the Gallery's Collection by playing our puzzle game.

Play today

Who do you think you were?

Answer a few lifestyle questions about the elizabethan period and discover your inner Elizabethan!

Start now