Object Image

William Wordsworth

William Wordsworth (1770-1850), Poet Laureate.

This portrait depicts Wordsworth aged seventy-two. It was painted to commemorate a sonnet that he had composed on climbing the peak of Helvellyn, after seeing Haydon's picture of Wellington musing on the Battlefield of Waterloo. Wordsworth was pleased with Haydon's heroic image, describing it as 'a likeness of me, not a mere matter-of-fact portrait, but one of a poetical character.'

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1842
Oil on canvas
1245.0 x 991.0mm
NPG 1857
Images and text © National Portrait Gallery, London

Where you'll find this

National Portrait Gallery
Permanent collection