Henry Hunt

This portraitback to top

Nos.956 and 957 both arrived at the NPG in 1894 with the attribution to Adam Buck. NPG 956 is confirmed by Buck's etching in the series of 'Friends to a Constitutional Reform of Parliament'. The change of attribution of NPG 957 from Buck to Wiche is based on Holl's stipple engraving published on the day of Hunt's liberation from Ilchester Gaol where he had been imprisoned for two years after Peterloo. The Report refers to the discussion in the House of Commons on his ill-treatment in Ilchester Gaol, the paper to his prosecution by the Excise for manufacturing 'Roasted Corn' as a substitute for coffee - known as 'Radical Coffee'. J. Wiche, a London miniaturist, exhibited RA 1811-26 and RBA 1824-7 including several listed as 'Portrait of a Gentleman'.

Physical descriptionback to top

Whole-length seated to left in a Regency armchair, dark blue tail-coat with brass buttons, black breeches, stockings and slippers, buff waistcoat, white neckcloth and bow-tie; grey powdered hair, blue eyes, pale complexion. He holds a paper: REPORT Committee Ilchester Gaol and on the table to left are a book, inkpot with quill and a paper: Whereas ... Act of Parliament ... Roasted Corn ... Henry Hunt. Red screen in background and on floor a green patterned carpet.

Provenanceback to top

Henry Hunt; given by Henry Willett, 1894.

Reproductionsback to top

Half-length stipple by Holl lettered: Wiche del Holl sc./Painted in llchester Gaol Sept. 1822/Published Oct 30th 1822 (the day of his liberation) by J. Wiche 98 Fleet St. A lithograph variant c.1830, half-length holding scroll marked Radical Reform is lettered: copied by permission from an original painting in Mr Hunt's house in Stamford St.


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 Henry Hunt