George Stephenson

Inscriptionback to top

Incised: JOS^H PITTS/SCULP^R/LONDON/1846.

This portraitback to top

Joseph Pitts's original bust of Stephenson on the main staircase of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers is incised: J. PITTS/SCULP^R/1844 and was exhibited RA 1844 (1317). The NPG copy is clearly dated 1846 and was probably made expressly for E. L. Betts, at that time engaged with Brassey and Peto on the construction of the Grand Trunk railway of Canada.

Physical descriptionback to top

Head and shoulders in cloak and pleated jacket with loose collar.

Provenanceback to top

Edward Ladd Betts of Preston Hall and his sale Christie's, 1 June 1868 (128), bought by 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 George Stephenson