Samuel Warren

Samuel Warren, by John Linnell, circa 1835-1840 -NPG 1441 - © National Portrait Gallery, London

© National Portrait Gallery, London

Early Victorian Portraits Catalogue

Samuel Warren

attributed to John Linnell
circa 1835-1840
36 in. x 27 7/8 in. (914 mm x 708 mm)
NPG 1441

This portraitback to top

This portrait was offered with another of Sir Edward Hamley (now Staff College, Camberley); both men were close friends of John Blackwood the publisher. According to the vendor, the portrait of Warren was commissioned direct from the artist, but neither she nor her cousin, William Blackwood, who also vouched for its authenticity (their letters in NPG archives), could remember his name. There was at the time a suggestion that Henry Weigall might have been the artist, as he had exhibited a portrait of Warren RA, 1851 (894). In a letter of 19 June 1906 (NPG archives), however, Weigall wrote to say that he thought that his portrait was probably a miniature; this is confirmed by Weigall's 'Account Book' (photostat copy, NPG archives), where a miniature of Warren is listed under 16 May 1850 (28), commissioned by Mr Blackwood. At some time subsequently, and for reasons unknown, Milner, then director of the NPG, ascribed the portrait to Linnell. The attribution is plausible, though Linnell generally worked on a smaller scale, but it has yet to be proved. The date of the portrait is based on costume.

Physical descriptionback to top

Healthy complexion, brown eyes and hair. Dressed in a dark stock and neck-tie, white shirt, grey waistcoat, and black suit, with a gold monocle suspended round his neck from a black ribbon. Holding a white book, and leaning on an unidentified green object. Red and gold patterned curtain behind at left. Rest of background dark brown.

Provenanceback to top

John Blackwood, purchased from his daughter, Mary Blackwood Porter, 1906.


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 John Linnell

View all known portraits for Samuel Warren