Matthew Arnold (1822-1888)

George Frederic Watts RA (1817-1904)

1880

Oil on canvas

26 x 20 1/2 in. (660 x 521 mm)

© National Portrait Gallery, London (Primary Collection, NPG 1000)

Given by G. F. Watts, 1895

Arnold was so much in demand by now that Watts had to urge him to sit for his portrait in time for that year's Royal Academy exhibition. Among five portraits that Watts then submitted, those of Lord Leighton and Arnold were especially praised. This one was considered a "striking likeness" (qtd. in Murray 302). — Jacqueline Banerjee.

Reproduced by courtesy of the gallery, on the Creative Commons license. [Click on the image to enlarge it; mouse over the text for links.]