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Unknown man, formerly known as Christopher Anstey

2 of 4 portraits of Christopher Anstey

Unknown man, formerly known as Christopher Anstey, by Francis Alleyne, circa 1790 -NPG 1339 - © National Portrait Gallery, London

© National Portrait Gallery, London

Mid-Georgian Portraits Catalogue

Unknown man, formerly known as Christopher Anstey

attributed to Francis Alleyne
circa 1790
17 in. x 14 in. (432 mm x 356 mm) oval
NPG 1339

This portraitback to top

A weak portrait, bought as a portrait by J. R. Smith of Christopher Anstey, but it shows little resemblance to authentic heads of Anstey by Hoare. Another small oval portrait, descended within the Anstey family, showing a head comparable with NPG 1339, but with glasses and without the dandified elegance, described as Christopher Anstey by J. R. Smith, was sold Sotheby’s, 12 February 1998, lot 222. NPG 1339 may possibly show one of Christopher Antsey’s sons (the Rev Christopher 1755-1827, John 1757-1819, Robert 1760-1818, or Thomas ?1770-1843).

Physical descriptionback to top

Blue-grey eyes, white powdered hair, wearing a blue coat, light green waistcoat with orange dots, yellow breeches, beige gloves, a fob ribbon at his waist.

Provenanceback to top

Purchased from Leggatt 1903.


This extended catalogue entry is from the out-of-print National Portrait Gallery collection catalogue: John Ingamells, National Portrait Gallery: Mid-Georgian Portraits 1760-1790, National Portrait Gallery, 2004, 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.

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