Sir Henry Holland, 1st Bt

Inscriptionback to top

Inscribed on a label, formerly on the back of the stretcher, in the artist's hand (referring to the RA exhibition): No 1./"Portrait of Sir Henry Holland/Bart. Phisician [sic] in ordinary to her/Majesty the Queen" - Thomas Brigstocke/21 Upper Belgrave Place Pimlico

This portraitback to top

This was commissioned at the same time as a portrait of Sidney Smith, Holland's father-in-law, which Viscount Knutsford purchased and kept. Gurney and Holland were both well-known travellers, and both were members of the Royal Society. The NPG portrait of Holland was originally three-quarter length. It was cut down on entering the collection; there was originally a globe on the left side, and a table on the right, with a water-colour of a seascape on it.

Referenceback to top

Singh 1907
Prince F. D. Singh, Portraits in Norfolk Houses, edited E. Farrer (1927), I, 343.

Physical descriptionback to top

Healthy complexion, brown eyes, grey hair and whiskers. Dressed in a white shirt, white neck-tie, and black suit. Seated in a green armchair, with wooden arm-ends. Red book at right on edge of brown table. Rest of background brown.

Provenanceback to top

Commissioned by Hudson Gurney; purchased from his son, J. H. Gurney, by the sitter's son, Henry, 1st Viscount Knutsford, 1912, and presented by him in the same year.


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.

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