Search the Collection

Sir George Scharf

(1820-1895), Artist and art historian; first Director of the National Portrait Gallery

Sitter in 79 portraits
Artist associated with 440 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

Tell us More

List Thumbnail

Florence Nightingale, by Sir George Scharf - NPG 1784

Florence Nightingale

by Sir George Scharf
pencil, 28 December 1857
NPG 1784

The Funeral of Thomas Babington Macaulay, Baron Macaulay, by Sir George Scharf - NPG 2689

The Funeral of Thomas Babington Macaulay, Baron Macaulay

by Sir George Scharf
pen and ink, 1860
NPG 2689

John Gibson, by Sir George Scharf - NPG 6050

John Gibson

by Sir George Scharf
pencil, 1860
NPG 6050

Sir George Scharf, by Sir George Scharf - NPG 5344

Sir George Scharf

by Sir George Scharf
pen and ink, 1869
NPG 5344

Sir George Scharf, by Sir George Scharf - NPG 4053(4)

Sir George Scharf

by Sir George Scharf
watercolour, late 1880s?
NPG 4053(4)

Sir George Scharf, by Sir George Scharf - NPG 4053(5)

Sir George Scharf

by Sir George Scharf
pencil and watercolour, late 1870s?
NPG 4053(5)

Key to 'The Fine Arts Commissioners, 1846', by Sir George Scharf - NPG 343c

Key to 'The Fine Arts Commissioners, 1846'

by Sir George Scharf
pen and ink and wash, 1872
NPG 343c

Sir George Scharf, by Sir George Scharf - NPG 3863

Sir George Scharf

by Sir George Scharf
pencil and watercolour, 1872
NPG 3863

Sir George Scharf, by Sir George Scharf - NPG 3864

Sir George Scharf

by Sir George Scharf
watercolour, 1872
NPG 3864

Sir George Scharf, by Sir George Scharf - NPG 3865

Sir George Scharf

by Sir George Scharf
watercolour, 1872
NPG 3865

Sir George Scharf, by Sir George Scharf - NPG 4053(6)

Sir George Scharf

by Sir George Scharf
pencil, 1872
NPG 4053(6)

Thomas Carlyle, by Sir George Scharf - NPG 2794

Thomas Carlyle

by Sir George Scharf
pen and ink, 1874
NPG 2794

A Bay in the Upper Long Gallery at South Kensington, by Sir George Scharf - NPG 2747a

A Bay in the Upper Long Gallery at South Kensington

by Sir George Scharf
watercolour, 1885
NPG 2747a

Eastern end of the Lower Gallery at South Kensington, by Sir George Scharf - NPG 2747b

Eastern end of the Lower Gallery at South Kensington

by Sir George Scharf
watercolour, 1885
NPG 2747b

Exterior of the National Portriat Gallery buildings at South Kensington, facing Exhibition Road, by Sir George Scharf - NPG 2747c

Exterior of the National Portriat Gallery buildings at South Kensington, facing Exhibition Road

by Sir George Scharf
watercolour, 1885
NPG 2747c

Staircase to the Upper Long Gallery, near the Gallery entrance at South Kensington, by Sir George Scharf - NPG 2747d

Staircase to the Upper Long Gallery, near the Gallery entrance at South Kensington

by Sir George Scharf
watercolour, 1885
NPG 2747d

Harold Lee-Dillon, 17th Viscount Dillon, by Sir George Scharf - NPG 4834

Harold Lee-Dillon, 17th Viscount Dillon

by Sir George Scharf
watercolour, 1886
NPG 4834

Sir George Scharf, by Sir George Scharf - NPG 4053(1)

Sir George Scharf

by Sir George Scharf
pencil, 1887
NPG 4053(1)

Sir George Scharf, by Sir George Scharf - NPG 4053(2)

Sir George Scharf

by Sir George Scharf
pencil, 1887
NPG 4053(2)

Sir George Scharf, by Sir George Scharf - NPG 4053(3)

Sir George Scharf

by Sir George Scharf
pencil, 1887
NPG 4053(3)

Related People

Place

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. 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.