Margaret Gillies
(1803-1887), PainterSitter in 2 portraits
Artist associated with 9 portraits
In the 1820s Margaret Gillies was a pupil of Frederick Cruikshank, a Scottish miniature painter. During the first two decades of her career Gillies made large miniature portraits, and some subject compositions, that were exhibited widely, including at the Royal Academy and the Society of British Artists. She produced portraits of many of the leading writers, intellectuals and social reformers of the day. From the 1840s she specialised increasingly in larger subject pictures, often portraying suffering heroines from the Bible, literature and history. After 1851, when she studied in Paris under Henri and Ary Scheffer, her major works became increasingly religious in tone and allegorical in subject.
by Cundall, Downes & Co
albumen carte-de-visite, circa 1864
NPG Ax14978
by Cundall, Downes & Co
albumen print on card mount, published 1864
NPG Ax131880
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.