✖

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.

Search the Collection

George Washington Wilson

(1823-1893), Photographer

Artist of 22 portraits
Began his career as a portrait miniature painter, but started using photography in the late 1840s. By 1852, he was offering his sitters a photographic alternative to the painted portrait. In 1853 John Hay and Wilson established the partnership of Wilson and Hay, Photographers. This partnership was short-lived, but secured the important patronage of Queen Victoria, who commissioned them to make a record of the building of Balmoral Castle. Wilson first photographed the Queen in 1855. He went on to pioneer techniques for photography outside of the studio and the mass production of photographic prints. At the time of his death his photographic business was estimated to be the largest in Britain.

Tell us More

List Thumbnail

'Stag shot by the Prince on Corrie-Buie, October 5th 1854', by George Washington Wilson - NPG P22(10)

'Stag shot by the Prince on Corrie-Buie, October 5th 1854'

by George Washington Wilson
albumen print, 1854
NPG P22(10)

John Grant & the same Stag, by George Washington Wilson - NPG P22(13)

John Grant & the same Stag

by George Washington Wilson
albumen print, 1854
NPG P22(13)

John H Macdonald and the Stag shot by the Prince, by George Washington Wilson - NPG P22(11)

John H Macdonald and the Stag shot by the Prince

by George Washington Wilson
albumen print, 1854
NPG P22(11)

The old gardener Simpson....and his wife, by George Washington Wilson - NPG P22(14)

The old gardener Simpson....and his wife

by George Washington Wilson
albumen print, 1854
NPG P22(14)

Donald Stewart and the same Stag, by George Washington Wilson - NPG P22(27)

Donald Stewart and the same Stag

by George Washington Wilson
albumen print, 1854
NPG P22(27)

D. Kennedy, J. Smith, Willy Stewart, John Brown, F. Farquarson, John Morgan, Charlie Coutts, P. Robertson and John Grant, by George Washington Wilson - NPG P22(17)

D. Kennedy, J. Smith, Willy Stewart, John Brown, F. Farquarson, John Morgan, Charlie Coutts, P. Robertson and John Grant

by George Washington Wilson
albumen print, 1857
NPG P22(17)

Mrs Grant, by George Washington Wilson - NPG P22(19)

Mrs Grant

by George Washington Wilson
albumen print, 1857
NPG P22(19)

Mary Symons; Victoria-Alice Symons, by George Washington Wilson - NPG P22(15)

Mary Symons; Victoria-Alice Symons

by George Washington Wilson
albumen print, 1857
NPG P22(15)

The children of John Grant, by George Washington Wilson - NPG P22(16)

The children of John Grant

by George Washington Wilson
albumen print, 1857
NPG P22(16)

Mr MacDonald and the stag shot by the Prince in Corrie Buie on 5 October, by George Washington Wilson - NPG P22(23)

Mr MacDonald and the stag shot by the Prince in Corrie Buie on 5 October

by George Washington Wilson
albumen print, 1858
NPG P22(23)

Royal Stag shot by the Prince, by George Washington Wilson - NPG P22(22)

Royal Stag shot by the Prince

by George Washington Wilson
albumen print, 1858
NPG P22(22)

Peter Farquarson, by George Washington Wilson - NPG P22(18)

Peter Farquarson

by George Washington Wilson
albumen print, 1860
NPG P22(18)

Mrs Duncan and her children, by George Washington Wilson - NPG P22(21)

Mrs Duncan and her children

by George Washington Wilson
albumen print, 1861
NPG P22(21)

Tammie Gow, by George Washington Wilson - NPG P22(20)

Tammie Gow

by George Washington Wilson
albumen print, 1861
NPG P22(20)

John Grant, Mrs Grant & their Children, 1861, by George Washington Wilson - NPG P22(12)

John Grant, Mrs Grant & their Children, 1861

by George Washington Wilson
albumen print, 1861
NPG P22(12)

Mrs Donald Stewart and her children, by George Washington Wilson - NPG P22(26)

Mrs Donald Stewart and her children

by George Washington Wilson
albumen print, 1861
NPG P22(26)

John Stirling, by George Washington Wilson - NPG Ax14928

John Stirling

by George Washington Wilson
albumen carte-de-visite, 1860s
NPG Ax14928

John Murray, by George Washington Wilson - NPG x126859

John Murray

by George Washington Wilson
albumen carte-de-visite, 1860s-1870s
NPG x126859

John Brown; Queen Victoria, by George Washington Wilson - NPG x197188

John Brown; Queen Victoria

by George Washington Wilson
albumen carte-de-visite, 1863
NPG x197188

Thomas Guthrie, by George Washington Wilson - NPG x76466

Thomas Guthrie

by George Washington Wilson
albumen carte-de-visite, late 1860s
NPG x76466

Place

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.