George Stephenson
- Artist: Henry William Pickersgill
- Date: circa 1845
- Medium: oil on canvas
- Dimensions: 44 in. x 34 1/4 in. (1118 mm x 870 mm)
- Portrays: George Stephenson
- Museum: The National Portrait Gallery
- Collection record: The National Portrait Gallery website
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About this artwork
In this portrait by Henry William Pickersgill, George Stephenson stands in a thoughtful pose, the oil brush capturing subtle fabric textures of his jacket and gentle shading that gives depth to his eyes. Pickersgill’s technique conveys the engineer’s quiet confidence, hinting at Stephenson’s self‑taught skill with steam power. In 1825 he built the first public steam railway from Stockton to Darlington—a milestone that sparked a network reshaping Britain’s countryside and economy. His son Robert later created the Rocket engine that rode on the world’s first inter‑city line.
See it in person
George Stephenson 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.
