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Somerset Maugham

(1874-1965), Novelist, playwright and spy

William ('W.') Somerset Maugham

Sitter associated with 115 portraits
Somerset Maugham was one of the most popular and commercially successful authors of the twentieth century. He qualified as a doctor in 1897, but pursued his passion for writing following the publication of his first novel, Liza of Lambeth, in the same year. His play Lady Frederick (1907) was his first theatrical success, and his largely autobiographical novel Of Human Bondage (1915) became a best seller. It was followed by other highly praised works The Moon and Sixpence (1919), Cakes and Ale (1930) and The Razor's Edge (1945). He wrote more than thirty plays, including Home and Beauty (1919) and The Letter (1927).

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Somerset Maugham, by Philip Steegman - NPG 4524

Somerset Maugham

by Philip Steegman
oil on canvas, 1931
NPG 4524

Somerset Maugham, by Sir David Low - NPG 4529(235)

Somerset Maugham

by Sir David Low
pencil, 1933 or before
NPG 4529(235)

Somerset Maugham, by Sir David Low - NPG 4529(236)

Somerset Maugham

by Sir David Low
pencil, 1933 or before
NPG 4529(236)

Somerset Maugham, by Sir David Low - NPG 4529(237)

Somerset Maugham

by Sir David Low
pencil, 1933 or before
NPG 4529(237)

Somerset Maugham, by Sir David Low - NPG 4529(238)

Somerset Maugham

by Sir David Low
pencil, 1933 or before
NPG 4529(238)

Somerset Maugham, by Sir David Low - NPG 4529(239)

Somerset Maugham

by Sir David Low
pencil, 1933 or before
NPG 4529(239)

Somerset Maugham, by Sir David Low - NPG 4529(240)

Somerset Maugham

by Sir David Low
pencil, 1933 or before
NPG 4529(240)

Somerset Maugham, by Sir David Low - NPG 4529(240a)

Somerset Maugham

by Sir David Low
pencil, 1933 or before
NPG 4529(240a)

Somerset Maugham, by Alfred Eisenstaedt - NPG P2030

Somerset Maugham

by Alfred Eisenstaedt
bromide print, 1942
NPG P2030

Somerset Maugham, by Yousuf Karsh - NPG P490(49)

Somerset Maugham

by Yousuf Karsh
bromide print, 1947
NPG P490(49)

Somerset Maugham, by Graham Sutherland - NPG 5325

Somerset Maugham

by Graham Sutherland
pencil and crayon, 1949
NPG 5325

Graham Sutherland; Somerset Maugham, by Cecil Beaton - NPG P155

Graham Sutherland; Somerset Maugham

by Cecil Beaton
bromide print, 1949
NPG P155

Somerset Maugham, by Graham Sutherland - NPG 5326

Somerset Maugham

by Graham Sutherland
sketchbook, 104 pages, 1949
NPG 5326

Somerset Maugham, by Henri Cartier-Bresson - NPG P727

Somerset Maugham

by Henri Cartier-Bresson
bromide print, 1951
NPG P727

Somerset Maugham, by Graham Sutherland - NPG 5329

Somerset Maugham

by Graham Sutherland
lithograph, 1953
NPG 5329

Somerset Maugham, by Graham Sutherland - NPG 5327

Somerset Maugham

by Graham Sutherland
black chalk, pencil and gouache, 1953
NPG 5327

Somerset Maugham, by Graham Sutherland - NPG 5328

Somerset Maugham

by Graham Sutherland
black chalk on tracing paper, 1953
NPG 5328

Somerset Maugham, by Irving Penn - NPG P594

Somerset Maugham

by Irving Penn
platinum palladium print, 1962
NPG P594

Somerset Maugham, by Bassano Ltd - NPG x81148

Somerset Maugham

by Bassano Ltd
whole-plate glass negative, 12 October 1929
NPG x81148

Somerset Maugham, by Bassano Ltd - NPG x81149

Somerset Maugham

by Bassano Ltd
whole-plate glass negative, 12 October 1929
NPG x81149

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