Bust

National Portrait Gallery - Kneller

Inscription

Kneller

Site: National Portrait Gallery (18 memorials)

WC2, Charing Cross Road

This building, 1896, designed by Ewan Christian, has 18 busts contained in medallions around the top of the facades. Starting at the east end of Orange Street and reading clockwise:
Facing north up Charing Cross Road: Chantrey, Lawrence, Reynolds, Hogarth, Roubilliac, Kneller, Lely, Van Dyke, Holbein.
Around the corner, facing east: Walpole, Clarendon, Fuller.
Facing north beside the entrance: Lodge, Faithorne, Granger.
Facing east, above the entrance are represented the three men chiefly responsible for the Gallery's existence: MacAulay, Stanhope, Carlyle.

2019: The Guardian reported on plans to move the entrance to this museum from the east side of the building round to the north side, where the Irving statue is.

2023: Londonist reported that the north entrance is now open and boasts three sets of doors etched with artworks by Tracy Emin. These show faces of 45 women, not specific or identifiable figures but, as the artist is quoted: "it's up to the viewer to discern what they feel and what they see or who they see..." Londonist sees 'The Doors' as "a direct challenge to/balancing act with the slew of Portland stone busts carved into the building’s original façade, featuring 18 men .."

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

This section lists the subjects commemorated on the memorial on this page:
National Portrait Gallery - Kneller

Subjects commemorated i

Sir Godfrey Kneller

Portrait painter. His set of portraits of Kit-Cat Club members is on display ...

Read More

This section lists the other memorials at the same location as the memorial on this page:
National Portrait Gallery - Kneller

Also at this site i

Nearby Memorials

Drill Hall - head 3 - Foreign Legion soldier

Drill Hall - head 3 - Foreign Legion soldier

W1, Chenies Street, Drill Hall

In the spandrels above the entrance door: "Bloomsbury Rifles Pro Patria Semper" ('for my country always'). The technique used for this le...

Reynolds - Harrow on the Hill

Reynolds - Harrow on the Hill

HA1, Grove Hill, Art School

We can find nothing to connect Reynolds with Harrow.

1 subject commemorated
Bertrand Russell bust

Bertrand Russell bust

WC1, Red Lion Square, Garden

Bust was made in 1980, the same year that Camden gave permission for it to be placed in the square and an appeal for funds was launched.

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Unidentified head - gentleman

Unidentified head - gentleman

SW1, Cockspur Street, 25 (about)

This gentleman and his lady friend may just be anonymous, off-the-shelf heads but they look like portraits to us.

2 subjects commemorated
Linacre bust

Linacre bust

NW1, St Andrew's Place, Royal College of Physicians

This bust is fixed to the wall of the building in the garden seen in the picture.

2 subjects commemorated, 1 creator

Previously viewed

Old Serjeant's Inn

Old Serjeant's Inn

WC2, Chancery Lane, 5

Site of Old Serjeant's Inn, 1415 - 1910 {In the border, top and bottom:} The Corporation of the City of London

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Thomas Hawksley

Thomas Hawksley

Civil engineer, particularly with water projects.  Born near Nottingham.  Died at home at 14 Phillimore Gardens.

Person, Engineering

2 memorials
Jane Austen

Jane Austen

Jane Austen, novelist of 6 major novels including Pride and Prejudice. Born: Steventon, Hampshire. Died: Winchester, Hampshire. For all Austen-related London locations see Londonist. A statue was u...

Person, Literature, Seriously Famous

3 memorials
Samuel Tull & Co

Samuel Tull & Co

From Some Notes on the Ward of Aldgate (1904) "Messrs. SAMUEL TULL & Co., 12, Creechurch Lane, Rope, Line, Twine and Net Makers, established over 164 years. Originally at the sign of the "Peter...

Group, Commerce

2 memorials
John Marshall

John Marshall

Native of Stamford in Lincolnshire.  A white-baker who lived in a mansion house in Axe Yard, Southwark (now Newcomen Street), where his father, also a white-baker had lived before him. Widowered an...

Person, Philanthropy

1 memorial