National Portrait Gallery

Advanced Collection search

Search the Collection

Sir William Temple, Bt

(1628-1699), Diplomat and writer

Later Stuart Portraits Catalogue Entry

Sitter associated with 19 portraits
A diplomat and author, Temple negotiated the Triple Alliance between England, Holland and Sweden in 1668, to protect the Spanish Netherlands from the French, and helped negotiate the marriage of William of Orange and Princess Mary, 1677. After 1681 he lived in self-imposed exile, gardening and writing on political and other subjects; he was frequently consulted by William III. Temple's secretary for the last ten years of his life was the celebrated author, Jonathan Swift.

Sir William Temple, Bt, after Sir Peter Lely - NPG 152

Sir William Temple, Bt

after Sir Peter Lely
oil on canvas, based on a work of circa 1660
NPG 152

Sir William Temple, Bt, by Caspar Netscher - NPG 3812

Sir William Temple, Bt

by Caspar Netscher
oil on canvas, 1675
NPG 3812

Sir William Temple, Bt, after Sir Peter Lely - NPG D21449

Sir William Temple, Bt

after Sir Peter Lely
etching, late 17th century
NPG D21449

Sir William Temple, Bt, after Sir Peter Lely - NPG D21448

Sir William Temple, Bt

after Sir Peter Lely
etching, late 17th century
NPG D21448

Sir William Temple, Bt, by Peter Vanderbank (Vandrebanc), after Sir Peter Lely - NPG D29818

Sir William Temple, Bt

by Peter Vanderbank (Vandrebanc), after Sir Peter Lely
line engraving, 1679
NPG D29818

Sir William Temple, Bt, by Peter Vanderbank (Vandrebanc), after Sir Peter Lely - NPG D18958

Sir William Temple, Bt

by Peter Vanderbank (Vandrebanc), after Sir Peter Lely
line engraving, 1679 (circa 1660)
NPG D18958

Sir William Temple, Bt, by Michael Vandergucht, after Sir Peter Lely - NPG D29820

Sir William Temple, Bt

by Michael Vandergucht, after Sir Peter Lely
line engraving, circa 1688-1725
NPG D29820

Sir William Temple, Bt, by Robert White, after Sir Peter Lely - NPG D21447

Sir William Temple, Bt

by Robert White, after Sir Peter Lely
line engraving, published 1700
NPG D21447

Sir William Temple, Bt, by Robert White, after Sir Peter Lely - NPG D29817

Sir William Temple, Bt

by Robert White, after Sir Peter Lely
line engraving, published 1700
NPG D29817

Sir William Temple, Bt, by Michael Vandergucht, published by William Taylor, after Sir Peter Lely - NPG D21446

Sir William Temple, Bt

by Michael Vandergucht, published by William Taylor, after Sir Peter Lely
line engraving, circa 1711-1723
NPG D21446

Sir William Temple, Bt, by George Vertue, after Sir Peter Lely - NPG D29819

Sir William Temple, Bt

by George Vertue, after Sir Peter Lely
line engraving, published 1720
NPG D29819

Sir William Temple, Bt, after Sir Peter Lely - NPG D29816

Sir William Temple, Bt

after Sir Peter Lely
line engraving, mid 18th century
NPG D29816

Sir William Temple, Bt, by Jacobus Houbraken, published by John & Paul Knapton, after Sir Peter Lely - NPG D30363

Sir William Temple, Bt

by Jacobus Houbraken, published by John & Paul Knapton, after Sir Peter Lely
line engraving, published 1738
NPG D30363

Sir William Temple, Bt, by Jacobus Houbraken, published by John & Paul Knapton, after Sir Peter Lely - NPG D40511

Sir William Temple, Bt

by Jacobus Houbraken, published by John & Paul Knapton, after Sir Peter Lely
line engraving, published 1738
NPG D40511

Sir William Temple, Bt, by Jacobus Houbraken, published by John & Paul Knapton, after Sir Peter Lely - NPG D19408

Sir William Temple, Bt

by Jacobus Houbraken, published by John & Paul Knapton, after Sir Peter Lely
line engraving, published 1738
NPG D19408

Sir William Temple, Bt, by Jacobus Houbraken, published by John & Paul Knapton, after Sir Peter Lely - NPG D20853

Sir William Temple, Bt

by Jacobus Houbraken, published by John & Paul Knapton, after Sir Peter Lely
line engraving, published 1738
NPG D20853

Web image not currently available

Sir William Temple, Bt

by Peter Vanderbank (Vandrebanc), after Sir Peter Lely
line engraving, 1679 (circa 1660)
NPG D21445

Use this image

Web image not currently available

Sir William Temple, Bt

by George Vertue, after Sir Peter Lely
line engraving, published 1720
NPG D37703

Use this image

Web image not currently available

Sir William Temple, Bt

by Jacobus Houbraken, published by John & Paul Knapton, after Sir Peter Lely
line engraving, published 1738
NPG D42880

Use this image

Related People

Dorothy, Lady Temple (wife)

Category

Groups

Places

Links

Sir William Temple, Bt in the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography

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.

* What can you tell us? (Help)

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.

Citation (Help)

How do you know this? Please could you let us know your source of information.

* Permission to publish (Privacy information)

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.

Denied Granted

* Your name (Why?)

* Email (Why?)

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.

Tell us more

Can you tell us more about this person?

Join & Support