William Riddell Birdwood, 1st Baron Birdwood
1 of 21 portraits of William Riddell Birdwood, 1st Baron Birdwood
© National Portrait Gallery, London
William Riddell Birdwood, 1st Baron Birdwood
by John Singer Sargent
chalk, 1916
23 1/4 in. x 19 in. (591 mm x 483 mm)
Given by wish of Charles Cheers Wakefield, 1st Viscount Wakefield, 1960
Primary Collection
NPG 4186
Sitterback to top
- William Riddell Birdwood, 1st Baron Birdwood (1865-1951), Field Marshal. Sitter in 21 portraits.
Artistback to top
- John Singer Sargent (1856-1925), Portrait and landscape painter and muralist. Artist or producer associated with 72 portraits, Sitter in 5 portraits.
Linked publicationsback to top
- Saywell, David; Simon, Jacob, Complete Illustrated Catalogue, 2004, p. 57
Events of 1916back to top
Current affairs
As war drags on with heavy losses conscription is introduced with the Military Service Act. Conscientious objectors who refused to fight were compelled to do non-military war work, and some were jailed.British Summer Time is introduced, putting the clocks forward an hour during the summer in order to capitalise on daylight hours.
Art and science
C. Hubert H. Parry sets William Blake's poem, Jerusalem, to music popularising the poem and tune as a patriotic English anthem. On hearing Edward Elgar's orchestrated version in 1922, King George V suggested that it replace God Save the King as the National Anthem.International
The Irish Citizen Army starts a Nationalist rebellion in Dublin: The Easter Rising.Massive losses are suffered on the Western Front at the battles of the Somme and Verdun.
The Arab revolt against the Ottoman Empire (1916-18) led by Prince Faisal is assisted by T.E. Lawrence, who became known as Lawrence of Arabia.
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