Search the Collection

Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener

(1850-1916), Field Marshal

Horatio Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener of Khartoum

20th Century Portraits Catalogue Entry

Sitter in 150 portraits
Kitchener was the epitome of the imperialist military general, who commanded the British army in Egypt, the Sudan, India and in South Africa during the Boer War (1899-1902). As Secretary of State for War from the outbreak of the First World War in 1914, he converted the small British army into a military machine of three million men and his image was used for the iconic army recruitment campaign with the slogan: 'Your country needs you'. It was based on Bassano's photograph of Kitchener, with the addition of a pointing arm. It first appeared on the cover of London Opinion magazine on 5 September 1914 and was adopted for recruitment purposes soon after. Several poster and postcard versions followed, and it became one of the most iconic images of the World War One era.

 Like voting
is closed

Thanks for Liking

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

Make a donation Close

List Thumbnail

Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener, by Alexander Bassano, published by  J. Beagles & Co - NPG x193879

Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener

by Alexander Bassano, published by J. Beagles & Co
bromide postcard print, circa 1916 (1899)
NPG x193879

'King Edward & His Empire Builders', published by Rotary Photographic Co Ltd - NPG x197883

'King Edward & His Empire Builders'

published by Rotary Photographic Co Ltd
postcard print, circa 1907
NPG x197883

Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener, by Bassano Ltd - NPG x183676

Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener

by Bassano Ltd
12 x 10 inch glass plate copy positive, 29 July 1910
NPG x183676

Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener, by Bassano Ltd, published by  Rotary Photographic Co Ltd - NPG x196988

Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener

by Bassano Ltd, published by Rotary Photographic Co Ltd
bromide postcard print, (29 July 1910)
NPG x196988

'Defenders of Our Empire', published by James Valentine & Sons Ltd, after  Frank Arthur Swaine, and  Langfier Ltd, and  Alexander Bassano, and  Sport & General Press Agency Ltd, and  James Russell & Sons - NPG x197673

'Defenders of Our Empire'

published by James Valentine & Sons Ltd, after Frank Arthur Swaine, and Langfier Ltd, and Alexander Bassano, and Sport & General Press Agency Ltd, and James Russell & Sons
bromide postcard print, 1911 or after
NPG x197673

Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener, by Lafayette, published by  W.H. Smith & Son - NPG x196884

Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener

by Lafayette, published by W.H. Smith & Son
bromide postcard print, published circa 1911
NPG x196884

Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener greets an Indian soldier, by James Russell & Sons, for  J. Beagles & Co - NPG x194115

Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener greets an Indian soldier

by James Russell & Sons, for J. Beagles & Co
bromide postcard print, 1914-1918?
NPG x194115

Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener, published by Rotary Photographic Co Ltd - NPG x196883

Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener

published by Rotary Photographic Co Ltd
bromide postcard print, 1914-1916
NPG x196883

Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener, by Grove & Son, after  Heinrich von Angeli - NPG D36895

Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener

by Grove & Son, after Heinrich von Angeli
photograph, before 1936 (1899)
NPG D36895

Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener, published by The Autotype Company, after  Sir Arthur Stockdale Cope - NPG D42738

Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener

published by The Autotype Company, after Sir Arthur Stockdale Cope
photogravure, published 15 June 1900
NPG D42738

'A General Group', by Sir Leslie Ward - NPG D45041

'A General Group'

by Sir Leslie Ward
chromolithograph, published in Vanity Fair 29 November 1900
NPG D45041

Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener, by Sir Robert Ponsonby Staples, Bt - NPG D36892

Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener

by Sir Robert Ponsonby Staples, Bt
colour halftone with watercolour heightened with bodytone, 1 August 1902
NPG D36892

Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener ('K. of K.'), published by The Crown, after  Frederick Drummond Niblett ('Nibs') - NPG D9537

Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener ('K. of K.')

published by The Crown, after Frederick Drummond Niblett ('Nibs')
coloured print, published 23 March 1907
NPG D9537

Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener, published by Illustrated London News, after  Bourne & Shepherd - NPG D36894

Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener

published by Illustrated London News, after Bourne & Shepherd
lithograph, published 13 June 1916
NPG D36894

Horatio Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener of Khartoum, issued by Sarony & Co, after  Sir Hubert von Herkomer, after  Frederick Goodall - NPG D48919

Horatio Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener of Khartoum

issued by Sarony & Co, after Sir Hubert von Herkomer, after Frederick Goodall
gravure cigarette card, 1923 (1890)
NPG D48919

Web image not currently available

Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener

by Unknown photographer
albumen carte-de-visite, 1860s-1870s
NPG Ax38739

Web image not currently available

Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener

by Alexander Bassano
half-plate glass negative, 1885
NPG x96288

Web image not currently available

Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener

by Alexander Bassano
half-plate glass negative, 1885
NPG x96289

Web image not currently available

Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener

by Alexander Bassano
half-plate glass negative, 1885
NPG x96291

Comments back to top

We are currently unable to accept new comments, but any past comments are available to read below.

If you need information from us, please use our Archive enquiry service . Please note that we cannot provide valuations. You can buy a print or greeting card of most illustrated portraits. Select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Buy a Print button. Prices start at around £6 for unframed prints, £16 for framed prints. If you wish to license an image, select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Use this image button, or contact our Rights and Images service. We digitise over 8,000 portraits a year and we cannot guarantee being able to digitise images that are not already scheduled.