1 OF 2

The children of John Grant

1 of 2 portraits of Andrew Grant

Identify sitters

by George Washington Wilson
albumen print, 1857
3 3/4 in. x 5 1/4 in. (95 mm x 133 mm) oval
Purchased, 1975
Primary Collection
NPG P22(16)

Sittersback to top

Albert Grant (1852-1921), Son of John Grant, Queen Victoria's head forester. Sitter associated with 2 portraits. Identify
Alexander Grant (1844-1887), Son of John Grant, Queen Victoria's head forester. Sitter associated with 2 portraits. Identify
Andrew Grant (1855-1943), Son of John Grant, Queen Victoria's head forester. Sitter associated with 2 portraits. Identify
Arthur Patrick Grant (1850-1937), Son of John Grant, Queen Victoria's head forester. Sitter associated with 2 portraits. Identify
James Grant (1846-1881), Son of John Grant, Queen Victoria's head forester. Sitter associated with 2 portraits. Identify

Artistback to top

George Washington Wilson (1823-1893), Photographer. Artist of 22 portraits.

This portraitback to top

From the time of their first visit in 1842, Queen Victoria and Prince Albert developed a great affection for Scotland and, in 1848, acquired the lease on the Balmoral estate. The castle which they built on the banks of the River Dee became Albert's favourite residence. George Washington Wilson, the famous Aberdeen photographer, was regularly commissioned by the royal family to take photographs of their visits, and of the estate and the estate workers. The five boys in Highland dress seen in this photograph are the children of John Grant, the Head Forester and Keeper at Balmoral.

Placesback to top

Place made and portrayed: United Kingdom: Scotland, Aberdeenshire (Balmoral, Aberdeenshire, Scotland)

Portrait setback to top

The Balmoral album: photographs by George Washington Wilson, W. & D. Downey and Henry John Whitlock, 1854-68

Subjects & Themesback to top

Events of 1857back to top

Current affairs

Palmerston passes the Matrimonial Causes Act in the face of parliamentary opposition. The act establishes divorce courts, although women, unlike men, are not allowed to sue for divorce on the grounds of adultery.
The Manchester Art Treasures Exhibition is held, a follow-up to the Great Exhibition of 1851, although highlighting Britain's private art collections rather than industry and technology. More than 1.3 million people visit the event.

Art and science

Elizabeth Gaskell publishes The Life of Charlotte Brontë, a year after the author's death. The controversial biography consolidates the myth of the Brontë sisters as isolated geniuses living in remote Yorkshire.
Illustrator George Scharf becomes the first Secretary of the National Portrait Gallery, overseeing the collection's growth and its several moves around London before a permanent home is established in 1896, the year after Scharf's death.

International

The Indian Revolt was a significant rebellion against the rule of the East Indian Company and a culmination of decades of discontent about British rule. After a year of horrific violence on both sides, the revolt was suppressed. It led to a more involved role by the British government in India, taking over responsibility from the East India Company.

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.