Richard Henry (or Hengist) Horne

Inscriptionback to top

Inscribed in ink on a label (formerly on the back): No 1./Portrait of/R. H. Horne Esq^re/by/Miss M. Gillies/6 Southampton Street/London Fitzroy Square

This portraitback to top

In the same sale of 1884 as this portrait was a miniature of Home by Miss M. Gillies of 1837 (lot 350), presumably the one exhibited RA, 1837 and a drawing in profile by the same artist (lot 352). The latter is in the British Museum, and is reproduced E. Gosse, English Literature: an Illustrated Record, IV (1903), 196. Another miniature by Miss Gillies was exhibited RA, 1846 (843). The drawing in the British Museum shows Horne as quite an old man, and does not appear to relate to the NPG portrait or the two miniatures. The date of the NPG portrait is based on the apparent age of the sitter.

Physical descriptionback to top

Brown eyes, brown hair and whiskers. Dressed in a white collar, and voluminous brown cloak. His hands are resting on the back of a chair covered in red material. Pillar at left and back-ground colour generally dark brown.

Provenanceback to top

The sitter; sold by his executors, Sotheby's, 12 November 1884 (lot 351); purchased by Henry Buxton Forman, and presented by his wife and son, Maurice, 1927.


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 Henry (or Hengist) Horne