Thomas Carlyle
(1795-1881), Historian and essayist; Trustee of the National Portrait GalleryEarly Victorian Portraits Catalogue Entry
Sitter associated with 94 portraits
In his 1841 book, 'On Heroes, Hero-Worship and the Heroic in Society', Carlyle claimed 'the history of the world is but the biography of great men.' He believed history was made by great individuals and advocated for the foundation of the National Portrait Gallery. Born in Scotland, Carlyle was influenced by German Romanticism and enjoyed lecturing and writing on German literature, promoting Schiller and Goethe to a British public. In 1834 he moved to London and began writing a history of the French Revolution. A respected historian, his ideas were influential at the time, however during the revolutionary decade of the 1840s he expressed controversial views that were met with widespread disapproval. In 1849 he published a racist essay called 'Occasional Discourse on the Negro Question' voicing his opposition to human rights. When he supported the repressive measures used in Jamaica to suppress the Morant Bay Rebellion, his liberal friends deserted him.
by Elliott & Fry
albumen carte-de-visite, 1860s
NPG Ax39829
by John & Charles Watkins
albumen carte-de-visite, 1860s
NPG Ax11945
by John & Charles Watkins
albumen print, 1860s
NPG Ax21887
by Elliott & Fry
albumen cabinet card, 1860s
NPG x5659
by Elliott & Fry
albumen carte-de-visite, 1860s-1870s
NPG x3695
by John & Charles Watkins
albumen carte-de-visite, 1860s-1870s
NPG x5648
by John & Charles Watkins
albumen carte-de-visite, circa 1861
NPG Ax5086
by William Jeffrey
albumen print, September 1862
NPG Ax7336
by William Jeffrey
albumen print, September 1862
NPG x5644
by William Jeffrey
albumen print, September 1862
NPG x5645
by William Jeffrey
albumen print, September 1862
NPG x5646
by William Jeffrey
albumen print, September 1862
NPG x5647
by William Jeffrey
albumen carte-de-visite, September 1862
NPG x5643
by Elliott & Fry
albumen carte-de-visite, circa 1865
NPG Ax28576
by Elliott & Fry
albumen cabinet card, 1865
NPG x129584
by Elliott & Fry
albumen print, circa 1865
NPG x5661
by John & Charles Watkins
albumen carte-de-visite, 1865-1870
NPG Ax7506
by Elliott & Fry
albumen print, circa 1865
NPG x5660
by John & Charles Watkins
albumen carte-de-visite, circa 1865
NPG x5649
by Elliott & Fry
albumen carte-de-visite, circa 1865
NPG x5656
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