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Sir Leslie Stephen

(1832-1904), Writer, philosopher, mountaineer and first editor of the Dictionary of National Biography; Trustee of the National Portrait Gallery

Sitter in 13 portraits
Author, literary critic, philosopher and mountaineer, Sir Leslie Stephen wrote on ethics, theology and the history of ideas. He is principally recognised as a literary biographer and as the first editor of the Dictionary of National Biography (1885 - 1891). At 63 volumes, the Dictionary was the most ambitious literary project of its day. Stephen took a strenuous role at every level of its production, finding it to be 'a very laborious and a very worrying piece of work'. He resigned as editor in 1891 but continued to contribute entries. He was knighted in 1902 in recognition of his services to literature. His children include Virginia Woolf and Vanessa Bell.

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Sir Leslie Stephen

by George Frederic Watts
oil on canvas, 1878
NPG L238

Sir Leslie Stephen

by William Rothenstein
chalk, 1903
NPG 2098

Sir Leslie Stephen

by Camille Silvy
albumen print, 9 October 1861
NPG Ax55957

Sir Leslie Stephen

by George Glanville
albumen carte-de-visite, circa 1870
NPG x18074

Sir Leslie Stephen

by George Glanville
albumen carte-de-visite, circa 1870
NPG x18075

Sir Leslie Stephen

by Eveleen Myers (née Tennant)
platinum print, circa 1890
NPG Ax36302

Sir Leslie Stephen

by John Caswall Smith, published by Swan Electric Engraving Co.
photogravure, 1890s
NPG x35979

Sir Leslie Stephen

by George Charles Beresford
sepia-toned platinotype print on card mount, 1902
NPG x128766

Sir Leslie Stephen

by George Charles Beresford
dry-plate glass negative, 1902
NPG x6595

Virginia Woolf; Sir Leslie Stephen

by George Charles Beresford
sepia-toned platinotype, 1902
NPG x4600

Sir Leslie Stephen

by George Charles Beresford
sepia-toned platinotype print, 1902
NPG x12917

Sir Leslie Stephen

by George Charles Beresford
half-plate glass negative, 1902
NPG x6596

Sir Leslie Stephen

by George Charles Beresford
glossy unglazed print, 1902
NPG x12918

Family Tree

Woolf

Related People

Julian Bell (grandson)
Quentin Claudian Stephen Bell (grandson)
Vanessa Bell (née Stephen) (daughter)
Angelica Vanessa Garnett (née Bell) (granddaughter)
(Karin) Judith Henderson (née Stephen) (granddaughter)
Adrian Stephen (son)
James Stephen (grandfather)
Sir James Stephen (father)
Sir James Fitzjames Stephen, 1st Bt (brother)
Julia Prinsep Stephen (née Jackson, formerly Mrs Duckworth) (wife)
Thoby Stephen (son)
Ann Davies Synge (née Stephen) (granddaughter)
Virginia Woolf (née Stephen) (daughter)

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Sir Leslie Stephen

Thematic collections

Glaze

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Sir Leslie Stephen