Charles Abbott, 1st Baron Tenterden

Inscriptionback to top

Signed and dated above his right elbow: J Hollins ft/1850.

This portraitback to top

Owen's original portrait in Corpus Christi College, Oxford, was commissioned by the College in 1818 and exhibited RA 1819 (R. L. Poole, Catalogue of Oxford Portraits, II, pp 272-3). Copies are in the Middle Temple, head and shoulders only by William Haines 1837, and NPG 481 by J. Hollins 1850. The NPG copy was presented by Lord Tenterden's son to the Society of Judges and Serjeants-at-Law and when the Society disbanded it was transferred to the NPG together with portraits of Bayley, Denman and Eldon. The mezzotint by S. W. Reynolds contains a large amount of etching, especially on the fur of the robes; the plates wore badly and fine impressions are scarce (Print Collector's Quarterly, XII, 1925, p 88); the NPG's is a fine impression, lettered proof and dated 1 January 1820.

Physical descriptionback to top

Three-quarter-length seated to left in judicial robes, wig and collar of SS, embroidered gloves in his left hand; greenish-blue eyes, swarthy smooth-shaven face.

Provenanceback to top

Family possession and given by Lord Tenterden to the Hon. Society of Judges and Serjeants-at-Law in 1850; given by the Society to the NPG 1877.

Exhibitionsback to top

(Of the original)
RA 1819 (92); on loan to the Royal Courts of Justice since 1958.

Reproductionsback to top

(Of the original)
Mezzotint by S. W. Reynolds, 1 January 1820.


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.

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