Benjamin Disraeli, Earl of Beaconsfield
- Artist: Sir John Everett Millais, 1st Bt
- Date: 1881
- Medium: oil on canvas
- Dimensions: 50 1/4 in. x 36 5/8 in. (1276 mm x 931 mm)
- Portrays: Benjamin Disraeli, Earl of Beaconsfield
- Museum: The National Portrait Gallery
- Collection record: The National Portrait Gallery website
Listen to the free audio guide
About this artwork
This oil on canvas by Sir John Everett Millais captures Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli in a moment of quiet dignity. You’ll notice his face first: the lines of concentration, the gentle set‑back of his mouth that suggests the man’s calm resolve. His frock coat is rendered with subtle light and shadow, hinting at the formal attire he wore when presiding over Parliament.
The background is simple, a black crepe screen draped behind him—a touch Millais added after Disraeli’s death in April 1881. The portrait was completed at Queen Victoria’s request and later displayed on a special screen at the Royal Academy before entering the National Portrait Gallery in 1945.
This work sits beside Gladstone’s pendant, echoing the political rivalry of the era. It also shows how Millais concentrated on essential facial expression to honor his sitter’s contribution to national life—making it a quintessential example of Victorian portraiture.
See it in person
Benjamin Disraeli, Earl of Beaconsfield is in the collection of The National Portrait Gallery at St Martin's Place, London — free to enter. Point your phone at any artwork there and audioguide.london plays a free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
