✖

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.

Search the Collection

William Kent

(1685?-1748), Architect, painter and landscape gardener

Early Georgian Portraits Catalogue Entry

Sitter associated with 8 portraits
Artist associated with 5 portraits
Kent came from humble origins, but gained knowledge of the classics when his early patrons took him on a Grand Tour of Italy, spending ten years studying, before being brought home in 1719 by Lord Burlington to decorate the ceilings at Burlington House (now the Royal Academy). One of the leading architects working in the Palladian style, he published Designs of Inigo Jones, 1727, and worked at Houghton, Holkham and Stowe, as well as in London on the Horse Guards and the Treasury Buildings. Kent's garden designs for mansions at Stowe, Rousham and Chiswick combine naturalism with classical allusions. He also illustrated John Gay's Poems, 1720, and James Thomson's Seasons, 1730.

Watch a film clip on the artist from the BBC Archive in the Media section below

Tell us More

List Thumbnail

William Kent, by William Aikman - NPG 6063

William Kent

by William Aikman
oil on canvas, circa 1723-1725
On display in Room 10 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG 6063

'A Conversation of Virtuosis...at the Kings Arms', by Gawen Hamilton - NPG 1384

'A Conversation of Virtuosis...at the Kings Arms'

by Gawen Hamilton
oil on canvas, 1735
On display in Room 10 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG 1384

Probably William Kent, by Bartholomew Dandridge - NPG 1557

Probably William Kent

by Bartholomew Dandridge
oil on canvas, circa 1736
NPG 1557

William Kent, by Alexander Bannerman, after William Aikman - NPG D3481

William Kent

by Alexander Bannerman, after William Aikman
line engraving, published 1762
NPG D3481

William Kent, by Alexander Bannerman, after William Aikman - NPG D3482

William Kent

by Alexander Bannerman, after William Aikman
line engraving, published 1762
NPG D3482

William Kent, by Alexander Bannerman, after William Aikman - NPG D3483

William Kent

by Alexander Bannerman, after William Aikman
line engraving, published 1762
NPG D3483

William Kent, by Alexander Bannerman, after William Aikman - NPG D3484

William Kent

by Alexander Bannerman, after William Aikman
line engraving, published 1762
NPG D3484

William Kent, by William Aikman, after Alexander Bannerman - NPG D3485

William Kent

by William Aikman, after Alexander Bannerman
line engraving, published 1762
NPG D3485

Category

Groups

Places

Links

Media

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.