Sir William Edward Parry

Inscriptionback to top

Inscribed in the artist's hand on a label on the back of the picture: Sir W^m. Edward Parry. Kt./L.L.D F.R.S.
L & E./The original Study painted for the/Historical Picture of the Arctic Council,/by Stephen Pearce./1851.

This portraitback to top

This is a study for Pearce's group, 'The Arctic Council' (NPG 1208), as well as an autonomous portrait in its own right. It was apparently once dated 1850 on the back, which is probably the date when Pearce began work on the group. In the group, Parry is shown three-quarter length pointing at a chart held by Sir George Back, but his costume, pose, and features are identical with this study. He is wearing the undress uniform either of a captain with over three years service or of a commodore (first or second class). The date, '1850', was also given by the artist in a memorandum of c.1899 (NPG archives); the date '1851' in the inscription presumably refers to the group.

Referenceback to top

Pearce 1903
S. Pearce, Memories of the Past (1903), p 53.

Physical descriptionback to top

Healthy complexion, blue eyes, white hair. Dressed in a black stock, white shirt, white waistcoat with gold chain, dark blue naval uniform with gold-braided epaulettes. Red curtain at left. Rest of background greenish-brown.

Provenanceback to top

Commissioned or purchased by Lady Franklin, and bequeathed by her niece, Miss Sophia Cracroft, in accordance with the wishes of her aunt, 1892.


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 William Edward Parry

View all known portraits for Stephen Pearce