Henry Hunt
- Artist: Adam Buck
- Date: 21 February 2025
- Medium: etching
- Dimensions: 9 7/8 in. x 8 in. (250 mm x 202 mm) paper size
- Portrays: Henry Hunt
- Museum: The National Portrait Gallery
- Collection record: The National Portrait Gallery website
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About this artwork
This is an etching titled “Henry Hunt,” drawn by miniaturist Adam Buck in the early 19th‑century. In front view we see the subject turned to a profile: his sharp cheek, straight nose and deep set eyes give him a dignified stance. Buck uses fine lines to suggest shading across the brow ridge and jaw; the paper itself shows subtle hatching that hints at texture.
The sitter, Henry Hunt (1773‑1835), was a radical MP for Preston whose speeches were heard by working‑class crowds. He spoke for parliamentary reform, survived arrest after the Peterloo Massacre, and later petitioned Parliament for women’s suffrage. His portraits were popular in his day, and this small, detailed piece captures that energy in ink on paper.
See it in person
Henry Hunt 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.
