The Gallery holds the most extensive collection of portraits in the world. Search over 215,000 works, 150,000 of which are illustrated from the 16th Century to the present day.

Advanced Collection search

Search the Collection

Leon Underwood

(1890-1975), Artist

Sitter in 4 portraits
Artist of 3 portraits
Underwood studied at the Royal College and the Slade School of Art, and worked as a sculptor, painter, wood engraver and writer. In 1921 he founded the Brook Green School of Art in Hammersmith, London, where pupils included Henry Moore and Eileen Agar. Underwood served in both the First and Second World Wars, and travelled extensively, seeking inspiration for his own work. He published Animalia while working in New York, and maintained a particular fascination for Mayan and Aztec sculpture, which he had seen in Mexico in 1928. Underwood also visited West Africa, subsequently publishing several books on African Art, as well as children's book Animalia (1926).

Tell us More

 Like voting
is closed

Thanks for Liking

Please Like other favourites!
If they inspire you please support our work.

Make a donation

List Thumbnail

Leon Underwood, by William Rothenstein - NPG 6711

Leon Underwood

by William Rothenstein
red and white chalk, 1920
NPG 6711

Leon Underwood, by Leon Underwood - NPG 6472

Leon Underwood

by Leon Underwood
etching, 1921
NPG 6472

Leon Underwood, by William Rothenstein - NPG 4798

Leon Underwood

by William Rothenstein
black chalk, 1922
NPG 4798

Web image not currently available

Leon Underwood

by Unknown photographer
bromide print
NPG x44730

Category

Groups

Places

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. 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?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.