Sir Charles Lyell, 1st Bt

This portraitback to top

The original portrait by Dickinson was in the collection of the donor's son, Sir Leonard Lyell, exhibited RA, 1870 (109), and VE, 1892 (248). There is a copy in Exeter College, Oxford. In a letter of 28 October 1904 (NPG archives), Mrs Lyell wrote of the NPG version: 'I afterwards asked Mr Dickinson if he would make a copy of it, which he kindly did most carefully, and it really is a most exact replica.'

Physical descriptionback to top

Healthy complexion, bluish-grey eyes, grey hair and whiskers. Dressed in a cream shirt, dark stock, buff waistcoat, green trousers, dark coat, and grey overcoat or frock coat, with a monocle suspended on a black ribbon. Seated in an armchair, the arms of which are covered in red plush. Background colour dark brown.

Provenanceback to top

Commissioned by the sitter's sister-in-law, Mrs Katherine Lyell, and presented by her, 1904.


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 Sir Charles Lyell, 1st Bt