Daniel O'Connell
- Artist: Sir George Hayter
- Date: 1834
- Medium: oil on millboard
- Dimensions: 14 in. x 12 in. (356 mm x 305 mm)
- Portrays: Daniel O'Connell
- Museum: The National Portrait Gallery
- Collection record: The National Portrait Gallery website
Listen to the free audio guide
About this artwork
This is “Daniel O’Connell” by Sir George Hayter, painted in 1834. Look at how he holds his hat—his right hand almost reaches for it as if he’s about to set it down. The face is calm but alert; the oil on millboard gives a subtle texture to his skin and robes. Notice the soft light that falls across his profile, drawing out the outline of his cheekbones.
O’Connell was an Irish MP who became known as “the Liberator.” He led the 1829 Catholic Emancipation campaign and was the first Catholic elected to the British Parliament. In the painting he looks like a man on the brink of change—his gaze steady, ready for debate.
Hayter painted him in a modest but dignified pose that fits the early‑Victorian portrait style. The work is an oil on millboard; its small size makes the details sharp enough to be appreciated from close up yet balanced enough to carry the sitter’s importance.
Enjoy the subtle interplay of light, texture, and posture—an intimate snapshot of a pivotal political figure.
See it in person
Daniel O'Connell 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.
