Early Victorian Portraits Catalogue
Thomas Babington Macaulay, Baron Macaulay (1800-1859), Historian, poet and politician; MP for Calne, Leeds and Edinburgh; Trustee of the National Portrait Gallery
- Gallery portraits
- All known portraits
- Biography and References
This does not include photographs, of which there are several examples in the NPG, or caricatures. Several of the portraits are mentioned by Macaulay in his 'Journal' (Trinity College, Cambridge). I am grateful to Thomas Pinney of Pomona College, California, for his improvements and additions to the list.
1832
'The Reform Banquet, 1832' by B. R. Haydon. Collection of Lady Mary Howick.
Etched by F. Bromley, published J. C. Bromley, 1835 (example in NPG); engraved and published by J. C. Bromley, 1837 (example in British Museum).
'The Reform Bill Receiving the King's Assent' by S. W. Reynolds. Houses of Parliament.
Engraved by W. Walker and S. W. Reynolds junior, published Walker, 1836 (example in NPG). The painting is based on a drawing by J. Doyle, also in the Houses of Parliament.
Lithograph by Inchbold, after I. Atkinson, published W. Parsons, 1832 (example in Trinity College, Cambridge).
c.1832
Lithograph by L. Haghe, after J. N. Rhodes (example in British Museum). Connected with Macaulay's election in 1832. Another lithograph said to be by Haghe, of apparently similar date, is also in the British Museum.
1833
'The House of Commons, 1833' by Sir G. Hayter (NPG 54).
Oil study, Hayter Sale, Christie's, 19-21 April 1871 (lot 533); Macaulay records sitting to Hayter in 1838.
Painting by S. W. Reynolds junior. Collection of Mrs R. Errington.
Engraved by S. W. Reynolds senior, and published by him, 1833 (example in NPG).
c.1834
Engraving by T. Illman, said to be after an original drawing of 1834, published Macaulay's History of England (1849 edition), I, frontispiece; Macaulay left for India in February 1834, so the date may be inaccurate.
c.1842
Painting called Macaulay and attributed to W. Mulready (in his study, with an unknown man). Collection of S. Wise, 1930. The man identified as Macaulay is reading a volume inscribed 'Lays of Rome', and there is a copy of the Times of 1842 on the desk (Macaulay published 'The Lays of Ancient Rome' in 1842); the features, however, do not agree very well with authentic portraits of Macaulay.
1844-5
Painting by H. Inman. Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, Philadelphia.
Engraved by J. Sartain for Macaulay's Critical and Miscellaneous Essays (Modern British Essayists, I, Philadelphia, 1849), frontispiece.
1844
Drawing by G. Richmond. Collection of Sir William Dugdale, Bart. Exhibited VE, 1892 (365), and Victorian Era Exhibition, 1897, 'Historical Section' (241a). Listed in Richmond's 'Sitters Book' (photostat of original MS, NPG archives), p 35, under 18. Possibly the portrait which Effie Gray (later Mrs Ruskin, secondly Lady Millais) recorded seeing at the house of Sir Robert Inglis, together with one of Hallam, in a letter of 2 December 1848; see Admiral Sir W.James, The Order of Release (1947), p 135.
1846
'The Fine Arts Commissioners, 1846' by J. Partridge (NPG 342, 343a, 343b, 343c).
Study (NPG 1564).
Plaster bust by P. Park. National Trust, Wallington, Northumberland.
Reproduced as a woodcut ILN, XVI (1850), 280.
Woodcut published ILN, VIII (1846), 348.
1847
Miniature called Macaulay by J. Simpson. Christie's, 15 October 1951 (lot 56).
Drawing by J. Doyle. Reproduced Macaulay, History of England, edited by C. H. Firth (1913), I, VIII.
Two caricature drawings by Doyle are in the British Museum.
1848
Bronze medallion by Baron C. Marochetti (NPG 257).
1849
Painting by E. U. Eddis. Apparently the painting engraved by W. Greatbach, published Longman, 1850 (example in NPG), for the first one-volume edition of Macaulay's Critical and Historical Essays. Macaulay recorded sittings in his 'Journal', April-May 1849. In February 1850, he mentioned the artist's disappointment with this portrait, and sat for a drawing in March (see below).
1850
Painting by Sir J. Watson Gordon. University of Glasgow. Engraved by J. Faed, published J. Keith, Edinburgh, 1851 (example in British Museum).
Painting by Sir J. Watson Gordon. Scottish NPG. Similar to the painting above, but not a study for it.
Drawing by G. Richmond. Exhibited SKM, 1868 (403), lent by Lady Trevelyan. Listed in Richmond's 'Sitters Book' (photostat of original MS, NPG archives), p 50, under 1850.
Engraved by W. Holl, 1861 (according to Richmond's 'Sitters Book') (example in NPG), published 1866 for The Works of Lord Macaulay, edited Lady Trevelyan, I, frontispiece. The same or another version was exhibited VE, 1892 (366), lent by Viscountess Knutsford.
Drawing by E. U. Eddis. Exhibited RA, 1850 (808). A first sitting is recorded by Macaulay in his 'Journal', 1 March 1850; the drawing was finished on 25 March. Engraved by J. Brown, published 1852 (example in NPG), for Bentley's Miscellany. A painting, in which the head appears to be based on the drawing, was in the collection of T. N. Longman, 1931, reproduced Works of Lord Macaulay (Albany edition, 1898), XII, frontispiece. Either this or another painting by Eddis was in the collection of Dr Nicolls, Hastings, 1938. Further sittings are recorded in the 'Journal' in 1852.
1853
Painting by E. M. Ward (in the sitter's study at the Albany). Ward Sale, Christie's, 29 March 1879 (lot 82), and Hurst Sale, 25 April 1899 (lot 125), bought Agnew. Exhibited SKM, 1868 (538), and VE, 1892 (330). Acquired by NPG, 1972 (NPG 4882).
Painting by Sir F. Grant. Formerly collection of Viscount Ossington.
Exhibited RA, 1854 (69), and SKM, 1868 (463). Study (NPG 453).
c.1856
Medallion by D. Hewlett. Exhibited RA, 1856 (1276).
1860
Painting by J. B. Brenan (after a photograph by Maull and Polyblank of 1856). Collection of Lady Wise.
Drawing of Macaulay's funeral by Sir G. Scharf. NPG 2689.
Woodcut published ILN, XXXVI (1860), 45 (in his library).
c.1863
Sketch for a statue by J. F. Redfern. Exhibited RA, 1863 (1098).
1864
'The Intellect and Valour of Great Britain', engraving by C. G. Lewis, after T. J. Barker, published J. G. Browne, Leicester, 1864 (example in NPG); key-plate published Browne, 1863 (example in British Museum).
1866
Marble bust by G. Burnard. Westminster Abbey.
Erroneously listed as by N. N. Burnard, and misdated 1859, in R. Gunnis, Dictionary of British Sculptors (1953), p 71.
1868
Marble statue by T. Woolner. Trinity College, Cambridge.
1880
Painting by J. Archer (after a photograph by Claudet of c.1856). Reform Club, London.
Undated
Various lithographs and engravings (examples in NPG and British Museum).
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.
1832
'The Reform Banquet, 1832' by B. R. Haydon. Collection of Lady Mary Howick.
Etched by F. Bromley, published J. C. Bromley, 1835 (example in NPG); engraved and published by J. C. Bromley, 1837 (example in British Museum).
'The Reform Bill Receiving the King's Assent' by S. W. Reynolds. Houses of Parliament.
Engraved by W. Walker and S. W. Reynolds junior, published Walker, 1836 (example in NPG). The painting is based on a drawing by J. Doyle, also in the Houses of Parliament.
Lithograph by Inchbold, after I. Atkinson, published W. Parsons, 1832 (example in Trinity College, Cambridge).
c.1832
Lithograph by L. Haghe, after J. N. Rhodes (example in British Museum). Connected with Macaulay's election in 1832. Another lithograph said to be by Haghe, of apparently similar date, is also in the British Museum.
1833
'The House of Commons, 1833' by Sir G. Hayter (NPG 54).
Oil study, Hayter Sale, Christie's, 19-21 April 1871 (lot 533); Macaulay records sitting to Hayter in 1838.
Painting by S. W. Reynolds junior. Collection of Mrs R. Errington.
Engraved by S. W. Reynolds senior, and published by him, 1833 (example in NPG).
c.1834
Engraving by T. Illman, said to be after an original drawing of 1834, published Macaulay's History of England (1849 edition), I, frontispiece; Macaulay left for India in February 1834, so the date may be inaccurate.
c.1842
Painting called Macaulay and attributed to W. Mulready (in his study, with an unknown man). Collection of S. Wise, 1930. The man identified as Macaulay is reading a volume inscribed 'Lays of Rome', and there is a copy of the Times of 1842 on the desk (Macaulay published 'The Lays of Ancient Rome' in 1842); the features, however, do not agree very well with authentic portraits of Macaulay.
1844-5
Painting by H. Inman. Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, Philadelphia.
Engraved by J. Sartain for Macaulay's Critical and Miscellaneous Essays (Modern British Essayists, I, Philadelphia, 1849), frontispiece.
1844
Drawing by G. Richmond. Collection of Sir William Dugdale, Bart. Exhibited VE, 1892 (365), and Victorian Era Exhibition, 1897, 'Historical Section' (241a). Listed in Richmond's 'Sitters Book' (photostat of original MS, NPG archives), p 35, under 18. Possibly the portrait which Effie Gray (later Mrs Ruskin, secondly Lady Millais) recorded seeing at the house of Sir Robert Inglis, together with one of Hallam, in a letter of 2 December 1848; see Admiral Sir W.James, The Order of Release (1947), p 135.
1846
'The Fine Arts Commissioners, 1846' by J. Partridge (NPG 342, 343a, 343b, 343c).
Study (NPG 1564).
Plaster bust by P. Park. National Trust, Wallington, Northumberland.
Reproduced as a woodcut ILN, XVI (1850), 280.
Woodcut published ILN, VIII (1846), 348.
1847
Miniature called Macaulay by J. Simpson. Christie's, 15 October 1951 (lot 56).
Drawing by J. Doyle. Reproduced Macaulay, History of England, edited by C. H. Firth (1913), I, VIII.
Two caricature drawings by Doyle are in the British Museum.
1848
Bronze medallion by Baron C. Marochetti (NPG 257).
1849
Painting by E. U. Eddis. Apparently the painting engraved by W. Greatbach, published Longman, 1850 (example in NPG), for the first one-volume edition of Macaulay's Critical and Historical Essays. Macaulay recorded sittings in his 'Journal', April-May 1849. In February 1850, he mentioned the artist's disappointment with this portrait, and sat for a drawing in March (see below).
1850
Painting by Sir J. Watson Gordon. University of Glasgow. Engraved by J. Faed, published J. Keith, Edinburgh, 1851 (example in British Museum).
Painting by Sir J. Watson Gordon. Scottish NPG. Similar to the painting above, but not a study for it.
Drawing by G. Richmond. Exhibited SKM, 1868 (403), lent by Lady Trevelyan. Listed in Richmond's 'Sitters Book' (photostat of original MS, NPG archives), p 50, under 1850.
Engraved by W. Holl, 1861 (according to Richmond's 'Sitters Book') (example in NPG), published 1866 for The Works of Lord Macaulay, edited Lady Trevelyan, I, frontispiece. The same or another version was exhibited VE, 1892 (366), lent by Viscountess Knutsford.
Drawing by E. U. Eddis. Exhibited RA, 1850 (808). A first sitting is recorded by Macaulay in his 'Journal', 1 March 1850; the drawing was finished on 25 March. Engraved by J. Brown, published 1852 (example in NPG), for Bentley's Miscellany. A painting, in which the head appears to be based on the drawing, was in the collection of T. N. Longman, 1931, reproduced Works of Lord Macaulay (Albany edition, 1898), XII, frontispiece. Either this or another painting by Eddis was in the collection of Dr Nicolls, Hastings, 1938. Further sittings are recorded in the 'Journal' in 1852.
1853
Painting by E. M. Ward (in the sitter's study at the Albany). Ward Sale, Christie's, 29 March 1879 (lot 82), and Hurst Sale, 25 April 1899 (lot 125), bought Agnew. Exhibited SKM, 1868 (538), and VE, 1892 (330). Acquired by NPG, 1972 (NPG 4882).
Painting by Sir F. Grant. Formerly collection of Viscount Ossington.
Exhibited RA, 1854 (69), and SKM, 1868 (463). Study (NPG 453).
c.1856
Medallion by D. Hewlett. Exhibited RA, 1856 (1276).
1860
Painting by J. B. Brenan (after a photograph by Maull and Polyblank of 1856). Collection of Lady Wise.
Drawing of Macaulay's funeral by Sir G. Scharf. NPG 2689.
Woodcut published ILN, XXXVI (1860), 45 (in his library).
c.1863
Sketch for a statue by J. F. Redfern. Exhibited RA, 1863 (1098).
1864
'The Intellect and Valour of Great Britain', engraving by C. G. Lewis, after T. J. Barker, published J. G. Browne, Leicester, 1864 (example in NPG); key-plate published Browne, 1863 (example in British Museum).
1866
Marble bust by G. Burnard. Westminster Abbey.
Erroneously listed as by N. N. Burnard, and misdated 1859, in R. Gunnis, Dictionary of British Sculptors (1953), p 71.
1868
Marble statue by T. Woolner. Trinity College, Cambridge.
1880
Painting by J. Archer (after a photograph by Claudet of c.1856). Reform Club, London.
Undated
Various lithographs and engravings (examples in NPG and British Museum).
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.