William Knibb

Inscriptionback to top

Engraved (defective) on the original tinted mount: THE REV. WILLIAM KNIBB/with a landscape of the Mission Chapel and grounds, Jamaica/Designed, Engraved and Printed by G. Baxter, Patentee of Oil Colour Printing./Patriot Office, London: No.II of the Missionary Portrait Gallery.

This portraitback to top

The print was made from a portrait lent for the purpose by the Baptist Missionary Society, probably painted by Baxter himself from a daguerreotype taken during Knibb's last visit to England in 1845. It was published in 1847 forming part of a trio of Baxter Missionary prints, the other two being John Williams and Robert Moffat (C. T. C. Lewis, George Baxter, 92).

Physical descriptionback to top

Three-quarter-length seated to right in a Victorian upholstered armchair, on his lap a volume of the Scriptures which he translated into the Jamaican vernacular, on the table to right the proclamation abolishing slavery dated: August 1st 1839; black clerical suit, black hair, dark blue eyes, dark complexion; in the background a landscape with Jamaicans and palm-trees.

Provenanceback to top

Christie's 13 June 1973 (150) bought by Leggatt for the NPG.


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 William Knibb