Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener
(1850-1916), Field MarshalHoratio Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener of Khartoum
20th Century Portraits Catalogue Entry
Sitter in 150 portraits
Kitchener was the epitome of the imperialist military general, who commanded the British army in Egypt, the Sudan, India and in South Africa during the Boer War (1899-1902). As Secretary of State for War from the outbreak of the First World War in 1914, he converted the small British army into a military machine of three million men and his image was used for the iconic army recruitment campaign with the slogan: 'Your country needs you'. It was based on Bassano's photograph of Kitchener, with the addition of a pointing arm. It first appeared on the cover of London Opinion magazine on 5 September 1914 and was adopted for recruitment purposes soon after. Several poster and postcard versions followed, and it became one of the most iconic images of the World War One era.
Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener
by Sir Hubert von Herkomer, and Frederick Goodall
oil on canvas, 1890
On display in Room 23 on Floor 2 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG 1782
Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener
by Alexander Bassano
printing-out paper print, 1895
NPG P1700(41c)
Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener
by Sir Leslie Ward
watercolour, published in Vanity Fair 23 February 1899
NPG 2684
Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener
by Charles Mendelssohn Horsfall
pastel, octagonal, 1899
NPG 1780
Encaenia at the University of Oxford
by Unknown photographer
printing-out paper print, 21 June 1899
NPG P1700(43)
Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener
by George Roland Halkett
chalk and wash
NPG 4549
Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener
by Duffus Bros
platinum print, 1901
NPG P403
Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener
by Otto Schoefft
albumen cabinet card, October 1884-June 1885
NPG x15599
Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener
by Alexander Bassano
cabinet card, 1885
NPG x127980
Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener
by Alexander Bassano
cabinet card, 1885
NPG x127979
Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener
by Alexander Bassano
cabinet card, 1885
NPG x127983
Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener
by York & Son, after Elliott & Fry
glass lantern slide, 1890s (circa 1885)
NPG x3675
Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener
by Elliott & Fry, published by Ogden's
cigarette card, published circa late 1890s (circa 1885)
NPG x136566
Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener
by and after Alexander Bassano
bromide print, circa 1902 (1885-1895)
NPG Ax136825
Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener
after Elliott & Fry
halftone postcard print, early 1900s (circa 1885)
NPG x196882
Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener
by Alexander Bassano
half-plate glass negative, 1885
NPG x96286
Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener
by Alexander Bassano
half-plate glass negative, 1885
NPG x96287
Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener
by Alexander Bassano
half-plate glass negative, 1885
NPG x96290
Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener
by Alexander Bassano
half-plate glass negative, 1885
NPG x96292
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.