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

William Hazlitt

(1778-1830), Essayist, journalist and critic

Regency Portraits Catalogue Entry

Sitter in 5 portraits
Artist of 1 portrait
Political journalist and critic, Hazlitt became the radical conscience of Romanticism. He trained firstly for the Dissenting ministry and then as a portrait painter before a meeting with Coleridge and Wordsworth inspired him to become a writer. He wrote with equal vitality and insight on theatre, boxing, politics, poetry and travel. His major publications include The Character of Shakespeare's Plays (1817), Political Essays (1819) and The Spirit of the Age (1825). He was (unhappily) married twice, suffered unrequited love for a servant girl, and died in poverty while labouring over an immense biography of his hero Napoleon.

More on William Hazlitt: The Romantic Poets and their Circle book in our Shops

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

William Hazlitt, replica by William Bewick - NPG 2697

William Hazlitt

replica by William Bewick
chalk, 1825
NPG 2697

William Hazlitt, by J. Hyatt, after John Hazlitt - NPG D3242

William Hazlitt

by J. Hyatt, after John Hazlitt
line engraving, (circa 1813)
NPG D3242

William Hazlitt, by Charles W. Marr, published by John Templeman, after William Bewick - NPG D48644

William Hazlitt

by Charles W. Marr, published by John Templeman, after William Bewick
stipple engraving, circa 1830s (1824)
NPG D48644

William Hazlitt, by Charles W. Marr, published by Saunders & Otley, after William Bewick - NPG D38514

William Hazlitt

by Charles W. Marr, published by Saunders & Otley, after William Bewick
stipple engraving, published 20 May 1836
NPG D38514

William Hazlitt, published by Richard Bentley, after John Hazlitt - NPG D13984

William Hazlitt

published by Richard Bentley, after John Hazlitt
line and stipple engraving, published 1867
NPG D13984

Category

Groups

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.

Contribute

Blog

Gallery blog

Read our latest news and have your say.

Join the conversation

Tell us More about our silhouettes, photograph of Hubert Leslie, Silhouettist

Identify our Silhouettes

Join enthusiastic contributors who have already identified 155 sitters.

Help transcribe signatures

Tell us More about our Silvy sitters, photograph of Camille Silvy, photographer with boy

Tell us more about our Silvy sitters

Help us identify the sitters who visited Camille Silvy’s photographic studio during the 1860s.

Identify our sitters