Richard Carlile

This portraitback to top

The early history of this picture is unknown, but Holyoake was, like Carlile, a vehement free-thinker, and presumably a friend. There is no doubt about the identification.

Physical descriptionback to top

Healthy complexion, brown eyes, greyish-brown hair. Dressed in a white shirt, black band round his neck with a gold clasp, black coat. Red curtain at right. Background colour dark green and almost black.

Provenanceback to top

G. J. Holyoake, bequeathed by him, 1906.


This extended catalogue entry is from the out-of-print National Portrait Gallery collection catalogue: Richard Ormond, Early Victorian Portraits, Her Majesty's Stationery Office, 1973, 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 Richard Carlile