Henry Siddons
1 of 2 portraits of Henry Siddons
- Overview
- Extended Catalogue Entry
© National Portrait Gallery, London
Henry Siddons
by Samuel John Stump
watercolour on card, 1808
3 1/8 in. x 2 1/2 in. (79 mm x 64 mm) oval
Purchased, 1972
Primary Collection
NPG 4879
Sitterback to top
- Henry Siddons (1774-1815), Actor and playwright; son of Sarah Siddons. Sitter in 2 portraits.
Artistback to top
- Samuel John Stump (1778-1863), Artist. Artist or producer associated with 9 portraits.
Linked publicationsback to top
- Saywell, David; Simon, Jacob, Complete Illustrated Catalogue, 2004, p. 564
- Walker, Richard, Miniatures: 300 Years of the English Miniature, 1998, p. 101 Read entry
Henry, a son of the great actress Sarah Siddons (née Kemble, 1755-1831), was an indifferent actor who owed his status mainly to being one of the Kemble family. Samuel John Stump, the rather pedestrian 'American Stump', specialised in portraits of stage celebrities. This miniature shows Siddons at the end of his London career, before he took over (in 1809), at the instigation of Sir Walter Scott (1771-1832), as manager of the Edinburgh Theatre.
- Walker, Richard, Regency Portraits, 1985, p. 454
Events of 1808back to top
Current affairs
The 'Mary Anne Clarke affair' erupts in which Clarke, mistress of Frederick, Duke of York, was said to have used her influence with him to run a military promotions racket. Championed by radical government opponents, it ends in the Duke's resignation as Commander-in-Chief of the army.Art and science
Sculptor John Flaxman begins Nelson memorial for St Paul's.Richard Trevithick demonstrates model railway travelling at 12 mph.
International
After taking Portugal, Napoleon invades Spain, deposes the Spanish Bourbon monarchy and appoints his brother Joseph as the new King. ThePeninsular War then begins under Sir John Moore and Arthur Wellesley, later Duke of Wellington, aiming to protect Portugal and exploit Iberian hatred of French tyranny.
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.