Early Victorian Portraits Catalogue
Robert Browning (1812-1889), Poet; husband of Elizabeth Barrett Browning
- Gallery portraits
- All known portraits
- Biography and References
This does not include photographs or caricatures. The most extensive work on Browning's portraits is G. E. Wilson, Robert Browning's Portraits, Photographs and Other Likenesses and their Makers, edited A. J. Armstrong, Baylor Bulletin, XLVI, (December 1943), no.4, which lists over 100 items, and illustrates almost all of them. As no copy of this book is available in England, the following list is included to give some idea of the scope of Browning's iconography. I am indebted to Baylor University, Waco, Texas for sending me a copy of Miss Wilson's book. Other publications dealing with Browning's portraits are, W. M. Rossetti, 'Portraits of Browning – I, II, III’, Magazine of Art (1890), pp 181-8, 246-52, 261-7; C. L. Hind, 'Portraits of Robert and Elizabeth Browning', Art Journal (1890), pp 62-4; Mrs S. Orr, Life and Letters of Robert Browning (1908), appendix I, pp 413-7.
1835
Drawing by Beard. Recorded by G. E. Wilson as in the Rischgitz Collection.
Engraved by J. C. Armytage, for Home's New Spirit of the Age, 1844; engraving reproduced G. E. Wilson, p 29.
1837
Drawing by Count Ripert Monclar. Recorded by G. E. Wilson as in the Fitzwilliam Museum,
Cambridge (there is no record of it there). In the Browning sale, Sotheby's, 1 May 1913 (lot 7), reproduced in sale catalogue. A copy is at Baylor University, reproduced G. E. Wilson, p 33.
1840
Drawing called Browning by L. Dickinson. Reproduced G. E. Wilson, p 36.
1845
Drawing by E. H. Thompson (posthumous, but made to look as in 1845). Reproduced G. E. Wilson, p 3.
1853
Painting by T. B. Read. Reproduced L. Greer, Browning and America (University of North Carolina Press, 1952), frontispiece.
Clasped hands of R. Browning and his wife by H. Hosmer (NPG 3165).
1854
Painting by W. Fisher. Wellesley College, Massachusetts.
Reproduced W. M. Rossetti, p 247.
Painting by W. Page. Baylor University, Texas.
Formerly Meynell Collection; see G. E. Wilson, pp 40-4.
c.1854
Medallion by M. Wood. Exhibited RA, 1854 (1456).
1855
Drawing by Lady Ritchie (in her journal). Collection of Mrs Richard Fuller, London.
Reproduced G. E. Wilson, p 45.
Water-colour by D. G. Rossetti. Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge.
Reproduced G. E. Wilson, p 47.
1856
Bronze medallion by T. Woolner. Examples at Baylor University, and City Museum and Art Gallery, Birmingham. Baylor version reproduced G. E. Wilson, p 52; Birmingham version reproduced R. L. Ormond, The Pre-Raphaelites and their Circle, Birmingham (1965), no. 25. A plaster cast was with J. S. Maas & Co, 1970.
1858
Painting by M. Gordigiani (NPG 1898).
1859
Drawing by F. Talfourd (NPG 1269).
Drawing by F. Leighton. Reproduced Mrs S. Orr, frontispiece.
Drawing by R. Lehmann. British Museum.
Reproduced G. E. Wilson, p 63.
1861
Bust by W. W. Story. Keats and Shelley Memorial Museum, Rome.
Reproduced G. E. Wilson, p 76. A copy is at Baylor.
1866
Painting by G. F. Watts (NPG 1001).
Painting by S. Laurence. Baylor University, Texas.
Exhibited RA, 1869 (336). Reproduced G. E. Wilson, p 82.
1868
Woodcut by G. W. H. Ritchie. Reproduced G. E. Wilson, p 82.
1869
Two drawings by W. W. Story (previously attributed to the 9th Earl of Carlisle). Collection of Mrs
Nicholson. Reproduced Browning to his American Friends, edited G. R. Hudson (1965), between pp 136-7.
1874
Painting by R. B. Browning. St Andrews School, Tennessee.
Reproduced R. Browning, Centenary Edition of Poems (1912), V, frontispiece.
1875
Painting by R. Lehmann. Baylor University, Texas (see NPG 839).
Reproduced G. E. Wilson, p 104.
1877
Painting by W. Fisher. Baylor University, Texas.
Exhibited RA, 1877 (270). Reproduced G. E. Wilson, p 105.
1878
Drawing by R. Lehmann. Collection of Mrs Schlesinger, 1894.
1879
Painting by A. Legros. Victoria and Albert Museum.
Exhibited Grosvenor Gallery, 1880 (32). Reproduced W. M. Rossetti, p 252.
1880
Paintings by R. W. Curtis, H. Pennington, J. Story and C. Forbes. Collection of Contessa Rucellai, Florence. The first reproduced E. Dowden, Robert Browning (1905), frontispiece, the second G. E. Wilson, p 115.
1881
Painting by R. B. Browning. Collection of Mrs A. Murray, London.
Reproduced G. E. Wilson, p 121.
'The Private View at the Royal Academy' by W. P. Frith. Collection of A. C. R. Pope.
Exhibited British Portraits, RA, 1956-7.
Reproduced Studio, CIX (1935), 294.
Drawing by F. Sandys. Collection of G. L. Craik, 1890.
Exhibited RA, 1882 (1263). Reproduced W. M. Rossetti, p 249.
1882
Painting by R. B. Browning. Balliol College, Oxford.
Engraved by P. Naumann, reproduced W. M. Rossetti, p 262.
Painting by R. B. Browning. Sotheby's, 12 March 1951 (241).
1883
Water-colour by Signor Kirchmayer. Collection of Contessa Rucellai.
Reproduced G. E. Wilson, p 134.
1884
Painting by R. Lehmann (NPG 839).
Painting by F. Moscheles. Wesleyan University, Ohio.
Reproduced W. M. Rossetti, p 250.
1886
Drawing by J. W. Alexander. Reproduced G. E. Wilson, p 150.
Painting by L. Calkin. Reproduced G. E. Wilson, p 152.
Silhouette by H. Edwin. NPG.
A similar silhouette said to have been done in 1885 is at Baylor University, reproduced G. E. Wilson, p 153.
Bust by R. B. Browning. Browning Hall, Walworth, Connecticut.
Exhibited VE, 1892 (1076). Reproduced L. Whiting, The Brownings: their Life and Art (1911), facing p 226. Replicas: Balliol College, Oxford; and collection of Dr Knight.
1888
Painting by Sir W. B. Richmond. Collection of Admiral H. W. Richmond.
Reproduced G. E. Wilson, p 164. Photogravure published Berlin Photographische Gesellschaft (example in NPG).
Medallion by G. Natorp. Example in collection of Joan Burke, Isle of Wight.
Type exhibited RA, 1888 (1945). Reproduced W. M. Rossetti, p 251.
1889
Painting by R. B. Browning. Baylor University.
Reproduced W. M. Rossetti, p 264.
Painting by R. B. Browning. Trask Collection, Saratoga Springs, NY.
Drawing by Major G. D. Giles. Baylor University.
Reproduced W. M. Rossetti, p 266.
Bust by H. S. Montalba. Oxford University(?).
Exhibited RA, 1889 (2152). Reproduced Art Journal (1894), p 216.
Engraving by R. Bryden (example in Victoria and Albert Museum, London), reproduced G. E.
Wilson, p 194.
1900
Plaque by S. Morse. Collection of Mrs T. B. Stowell, Los Angeles.
Reproduced G. E. Wilson, p 195.
1924
Painting by E. S. Bush. Pasadena Browning Society.
Reproduced G. E. Wilson, p 146.
1931
Medallion by M. Smith Dean. Reproduced G. E. Wilson, p 94.
Undated
Terra-cotta bust by unknown sculptor. Collection of J. Scott, 1896.
This extended catalogue entry is from the out-of-print National Portrait Gallery collection catalogue: Richard Ormond, Early Victorian Portraits, Her Majesty's Stationery Office, 1973, and is as published then. For the most up-to-date details on individual Collection works, we recommend reading the information provided in the Search the Collection results on this website in parallel with this text.
1835
Drawing by Beard. Recorded by G. E. Wilson as in the Rischgitz Collection.
Engraved by J. C. Armytage, for Home's New Spirit of the Age, 1844; engraving reproduced G. E. Wilson, p 29.
1837
Drawing by Count Ripert Monclar. Recorded by G. E. Wilson as in the Fitzwilliam Museum,
Cambridge (there is no record of it there). In the Browning sale, Sotheby's, 1 May 1913 (lot 7), reproduced in sale catalogue. A copy is at Baylor University, reproduced G. E. Wilson, p 33.
1840
Drawing called Browning by L. Dickinson. Reproduced G. E. Wilson, p 36.
1845
Drawing by E. H. Thompson (posthumous, but made to look as in 1845). Reproduced G. E. Wilson, p 3.
1853
Painting by T. B. Read. Reproduced L. Greer, Browning and America (University of North Carolina Press, 1952), frontispiece.
Clasped hands of R. Browning and his wife by H. Hosmer (NPG 3165).
1854
Painting by W. Fisher. Wellesley College, Massachusetts.
Reproduced W. M. Rossetti, p 247.
Painting by W. Page. Baylor University, Texas.
Formerly Meynell Collection; see G. E. Wilson, pp 40-4.
c.1854
Medallion by M. Wood. Exhibited RA, 1854 (1456).
1855
Drawing by Lady Ritchie (in her journal). Collection of Mrs Richard Fuller, London.
Reproduced G. E. Wilson, p 45.
Water-colour by D. G. Rossetti. Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge.
Reproduced G. E. Wilson, p 47.
1856
Bronze medallion by T. Woolner. Examples at Baylor University, and City Museum and Art Gallery, Birmingham. Baylor version reproduced G. E. Wilson, p 52; Birmingham version reproduced R. L. Ormond, The Pre-Raphaelites and their Circle, Birmingham (1965), no. 25. A plaster cast was with J. S. Maas & Co, 1970.
1858
Painting by M. Gordigiani (NPG 1898).
1859
Drawing by F. Talfourd (NPG 1269).
Drawing by F. Leighton. Reproduced Mrs S. Orr, frontispiece.
Drawing by R. Lehmann. British Museum.
Reproduced G. E. Wilson, p 63.
1861
Bust by W. W. Story. Keats and Shelley Memorial Museum, Rome.
Reproduced G. E. Wilson, p 76. A copy is at Baylor.
1866
Painting by G. F. Watts (NPG 1001).
Painting by S. Laurence. Baylor University, Texas.
Exhibited RA, 1869 (336). Reproduced G. E. Wilson, p 82.
1868
Woodcut by G. W. H. Ritchie. Reproduced G. E. Wilson, p 82.
1869
Two drawings by W. W. Story (previously attributed to the 9th Earl of Carlisle). Collection of Mrs
Nicholson. Reproduced Browning to his American Friends, edited G. R. Hudson (1965), between pp 136-7.
1874
Painting by R. B. Browning. St Andrews School, Tennessee.
Reproduced R. Browning, Centenary Edition of Poems (1912), V, frontispiece.
1875
Painting by R. Lehmann. Baylor University, Texas (see NPG 839).
Reproduced G. E. Wilson, p 104.
1877
Painting by W. Fisher. Baylor University, Texas.
Exhibited RA, 1877 (270). Reproduced G. E. Wilson, p 105.
1878
Drawing by R. Lehmann. Collection of Mrs Schlesinger, 1894.
1879
Painting by A. Legros. Victoria and Albert Museum.
Exhibited Grosvenor Gallery, 1880 (32). Reproduced W. M. Rossetti, p 252.
1880
Paintings by R. W. Curtis, H. Pennington, J. Story and C. Forbes. Collection of Contessa Rucellai, Florence. The first reproduced E. Dowden, Robert Browning (1905), frontispiece, the second G. E. Wilson, p 115.
1881
Painting by R. B. Browning. Collection of Mrs A. Murray, London.
Reproduced G. E. Wilson, p 121.
'The Private View at the Royal Academy' by W. P. Frith. Collection of A. C. R. Pope.
Exhibited British Portraits, RA, 1956-7.
Reproduced Studio, CIX (1935), 294.
Drawing by F. Sandys. Collection of G. L. Craik, 1890.
Exhibited RA, 1882 (1263). Reproduced W. M. Rossetti, p 249.
1882
Painting by R. B. Browning. Balliol College, Oxford.
Engraved by P. Naumann, reproduced W. M. Rossetti, p 262.
Painting by R. B. Browning. Sotheby's, 12 March 1951 (241).
1883
Water-colour by Signor Kirchmayer. Collection of Contessa Rucellai.
Reproduced G. E. Wilson, p 134.
1884
Painting by R. Lehmann (NPG 839).
Painting by F. Moscheles. Wesleyan University, Ohio.
Reproduced W. M. Rossetti, p 250.
1886
Drawing by J. W. Alexander. Reproduced G. E. Wilson, p 150.
Painting by L. Calkin. Reproduced G. E. Wilson, p 152.
Silhouette by H. Edwin. NPG.
A similar silhouette said to have been done in 1885 is at Baylor University, reproduced G. E. Wilson, p 153.
Bust by R. B. Browning. Browning Hall, Walworth, Connecticut.
Exhibited VE, 1892 (1076). Reproduced L. Whiting, The Brownings: their Life and Art (1911), facing p 226. Replicas: Balliol College, Oxford; and collection of Dr Knight.
1888
Painting by Sir W. B. Richmond. Collection of Admiral H. W. Richmond.
Reproduced G. E. Wilson, p 164. Photogravure published Berlin Photographische Gesellschaft (example in NPG).
Medallion by G. Natorp. Example in collection of Joan Burke, Isle of Wight.
Type exhibited RA, 1888 (1945). Reproduced W. M. Rossetti, p 251.
1889
Painting by R. B. Browning. Baylor University.
Reproduced W. M. Rossetti, p 264.
Painting by R. B. Browning. Trask Collection, Saratoga Springs, NY.
Drawing by Major G. D. Giles. Baylor University.
Reproduced W. M. Rossetti, p 266.
Bust by H. S. Montalba. Oxford University(?).
Exhibited RA, 1889 (2152). Reproduced Art Journal (1894), p 216.
Engraving by R. Bryden (example in Victoria and Albert Museum, London), reproduced G. E.
Wilson, p 194.
1900
Plaque by S. Morse. Collection of Mrs T. B. Stowell, Los Angeles.
Reproduced G. E. Wilson, p 195.
1924
Painting by E. S. Bush. Pasadena Browning Society.
Reproduced G. E. Wilson, p 146.
1931
Medallion by M. Smith Dean. Reproduced G. E. Wilson, p 94.
Undated
Terra-cotta bust by unknown sculptor. Collection of J. Scott, 1896.
This extended catalogue entry is from the out-of-print National Portrait Gallery collection catalogue: Richard Ormond, Early Victorian Portraits, Her Majesty's Stationery Office, 1973, and is as published then. For the most up-to-date details on individual Collection works, we recommend reading the information provided in the Search the Collection results on this website in parallel with this text.