John Canton (1718-1772), Electrician, experimental philosopher, schoolmaster.
This is the only recorded portrait of John Canton. According to Robert Canton, his great-grandson, who gave this head portrait to the National Portrait Gallery in 1888, it was originally a full-length, showing the sitter seated in a chair and, Robert Canton thought, surrounded by mathematical instruments. More detailed information on this portrait is available in a National Portrait Gallery collection catalogue, John Kerslake's Early Georgian Portraits (1977, out of print).
1740s
Oil on canvas
489.0 x 394.0mm
NPG 809
Image and text © National Portrait Gallery, 2022
Where you'll find this
National Portrait Gallery
Permanent collection