Henry Siddons

© National Portrait Gallery, London

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Henry Siddons

by Samuel John Stump
watercolour on card, 1808
3 1/8 in. x 2 1/2 in. (79 mm x 64 mm) oval
Purchased, 1972
Primary Collection
NPG 4879

Sitterback to top

  • Henry Siddons (1774-1815), Actor and playwright; son of Sarah Siddons. Sitter in 2 portraits.

Artistback to top

  • Samuel John Stump (1778-1863), Artist. Artist or producer associated with 9 portraits.

Linked publicationsback to top

  • Saywell, David; Simon, Jacob, Complete Illustrated Catalogue, 2004, p. 564
  • Walker, Richard, Miniatures: 300 Years of the English Miniature, 1998, p. 101 Read entry

    Henry, a son of the great actress Sarah Siddons (née Kemble, 1755-1831), was an indifferent actor who owed his status mainly to being one of the Kemble family. Samuel John Stump, the rather pedestrian 'American Stump', specialised in portraits of stage celebrities. This miniature shows Siddons at the end of his London career, before he took over (in 1809), at the instigation of Sir Walter Scott (1771-1832), as manager of the Edinburgh Theatre.

  • Walker, Richard, Regency Portraits, 1985, p. 454

Subject/Themeback to top

Events of 1808back to top

Current affairs

The 'Mary Anne Clarke affair' erupts in which Clarke, mistress of Frederick, Duke of York, was said to have used her influence with him to run a military promotions racket. Championed by radical government opponents, it ends in the Duke's resignation as Commander-in-Chief of the army.

Art and science

Sculptor John Flaxman begins Nelson memorial for St Paul's.
Richard Trevithick demonstrates model railway travelling at 12 mph.

International

After taking Portugal, Napoleon invades Spain, deposes the Spanish Bourbon monarchy and appoints his brother Joseph as the new King. The
Peninsular War then begins under Sir John Moore and Arthur Wellesley, later Duke of Wellington, aiming to protect Portugal and exploit Iberian hatred of French tyranny.

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