Sir George Scharf
(1820-1895), Artist and art historian; first Director of the National Portrait GallerySitter in 79 portraits
Artist associated with 585 portraits
Artist and art historian; appointed first Secretary of the National Portrait Gallery in 1857 and Director in 1882. Scharf studied art under his father, the draughtsman and lithographer George Scharf, before entering the Royal Academy Schools in 1838. In the 1840s Scharf was twice commissioned as a draughtsman to travel to Asia Minor and, in the late 1840s and early 1850s, established himself as a leading book illustrator. Scharf devoted nearly 40 years to researching and identifying authentic portraits of significant historical figures and became an authority on portraiture.
More on Scharf: Sir George Scharf sketchbooks
by Sir George Scharf
pencil, 28 December 1857
NPG 1784
The Funeral of Thomas Babington Macaulay, Baron Macaulay
by Sir George Scharf
pen and ink, 1860
NPG 2689
by Sir George Scharf
pen and ink, 1869
NPG 5344
by Sir George Scharf
watercolour, late 1880s?
NPG 4053(4)
by Sir George Scharf
pencil and watercolour, late 1870s?
NPG 4053(5)
Key to 'The Fine Arts Commissioners, 1846'
by Sir George Scharf
pen and ink and wash, 1872
NPG 343c
by Sir George Scharf
pencil and watercolour, 1872
NPG 3863
by Sir George Scharf
watercolour, 1872
NPG 3864
by Sir George Scharf
watercolour, 1872
NPG 3865
by Sir George Scharf
pencil, 1872
NPG 4053(6)
by Sir George Scharf
pencil, 1872
NPG 4053(9)
by Sir George Scharf
pen and ink, 1874
NPG 2794
A Bay in the Upper Long Gallery of the National Portrait Gallery at South Kensington
by Sir George Scharf
watercolour, 1885
NPG 2747a
Eastern end of the Lower Gallery of the National Portrait Gallery at South Kensington
by Sir George Scharf
watercolour, 1885
NPG 2747b
Exterior of the National Portrait Gallery buildings at South Kensington, facing Exhibition Road
by Sir George Scharf
watercolour, 1885
NPG 2747c
by Sir George Scharf
watercolour, 1885
NPG 2747d
Harold Lee-Dillon, 17th Viscount Dillon
by Sir George Scharf
watercolour, 1886
NPG 4834
by Sir George Scharf
pencil, 1887
NPG 4053(1)
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