4 OF 37

Lord Byron

4 of 37 portraits of Lord Byron

Overview
Extended Catalogue Entry

Lord Byron

by Lorenzo Bartolini
marble bust, 1822
23 1/2 in. (597 mm) high
Purchased, 1904
Primary Collection
NPG 1367

Sitterback to top

George Gordon Byron, 6th Baron Byron (1788-1824), Poet. Sitter in 37 portraits.

Artistback to top

Lorenzo Bartolini (1777-1850), Sculptor. Artist associated with 2 portraits.

This portraitback to top

Carved at the request of the sculptor while Byron was staying at Pisa in 1822. Though generally thought very like, the bust was criticised by Byron who claimed 'it exactly resembles a superannuated Jesuit'.

Linked publicationsback to top

Walker, Richard, Regency Portraits, 1985, p. 83

Placesback to top

Place made: Italy (Pisa, Italy)

Linked displays and exhibitionsback to top

Mad, Bad and Dangerous: The Cult of Lord Byron (20 November 2002 - 16 February 2003)

Subject/Themeback to top

Sculpture

Events of 1822back to top

Current affairs

Lord Castlereagh (the Marquis of Londonderry) commits suicide after a blackmail campaign against him.
Tory cabinet joined by liberals George Canning and Robert Peel. Canning is appointed Foreign Secretary.

Art and science

John Nash completes the remodelling of the King's villa, the Brighton Pavilion and begins plans for the new layout of Regent Street and Regent's Park.
The Caledonian Canal opens to link eastern to western Scotland.
The Sunday Times is founded.

International

David Wilkie exhibits celebrated Chelsea Pensioners at the Royal Academy to commemorate the Battle of Waterloo. It proves so popular a rail has to be erected to protect it.
First major failure of the potato crop in Ireland. A large-scale public works programme is implemented to provide employment.

Tell us more back to top

Can you tell us more about this portrait? Spotted an error, information that is missing (a sitter’s life dates, occupation or family relationships, or a date of portrait for example) or do you know anything that we don't know? If you have information to share please complete the form below.

If you require information from us, please use our Archive enquiry service. You can buy a print of most illustrated portraits. Select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Buy a Print button. Prices start at £6 for unframed prints, £25 for framed prints. If you wish to license this image, please use our Rights and Images service.

Please note that we cannot provide valuations.

We digitise over 8,000 portraits a year and we cannot guarantee being able to digitise images that are not already scheduled.

* What can you tell us? (Help)

There are occasions when we are unsure of the identity of a sitter or artist, their life dates, occupation or have not recorded their family relationships. Sometimes we have not recorded the date of a portrait. Do you have specialist knowledge or a particular interest about any aspect of the portrait or sitter or artist that you can share with us? We would welcome any information that adds to and enhances our information and understanding about a particular portrait, sitter or artist.

Citation (Help)

How do you know this? Please could you let us know your source of information.

* Permission to publish (Privacy information)

The National Portrait Gallery will NOT use your information to contact you or store for any other purpose than to investigate or display your contribution. By ticking permission to publish you are indicating your agreement for your contribution to be shown on this collection item page. Please note your email address will not be displayed on the page nor will it be used for any marketing material or promotion of any kind.

Please ensure your comments are relevant and appropriate. Your contributions must be polite and with no intention of causing trouble. All contributions are moderated.

Denied Granted

* Your name (Why?)

* Email (Why?)

Contributions are moderated. We'll need your email address so that we can follow up on the information provided and contact you to let you know when your contribution has been published.