Sir Augustus Wall Callcott

This portraitback to top

This picture was a study for the head of the abbot in Landseer's 'Bolton Abbey in the Olden Time', commissioned by the 6th Duke of Devonshire, exhibited RA 1834 (13) and still at Chatsworth. Callcott and Landseer were close friends and collaborated on a number of pictures. Horsley says 'the study was made in oil nearly the size of life, and this was painted al prima and exquisitely finished in a sitting of three or four hours' (J. C. Horsley, Recollections, 1903, p 238).

Physical descriptionback to top

Head only, looking downwards to right, brown hair, dark eyes, clear complexion; white shirt, black collar of unfinished coat.

Provenanceback to top

J. Bickerstaff; Colonel Bickerstaff and his sale Christie's 29 November 1902 (45) bought Maple; F. Dent and bought from him 1947.

Exhibitionsback to top

'Art Treasures of the United Kingdom', Manchester, 1857 (307); 'The Works of the late Sir Edwin Landseer R.A.', RA, 1874 (221).


This extended catalogue entry is from the out-of-print National Portrait Gallery collection catalogue: Richard Walker, Regency Portraits, National Portrait Gallery, 1985, 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.

View all known portraits for Sir Augustus Wall Callcott

View all known portraits for Sir Edwin Henry Landseer