Henry Pearce
- Artist: George Smeeton
- Date: 1812
- Medium: hand-coloured stipple
- Dimensions: Long Term Loan
- Portrays: Henry Pearce
- Museum: The National Portrait Gallery
- Collection record: The National Portrait Gallery website
Listen to the free audio guide
About this artwork
Before you is the portrait titled “Henry Pearce.” This illustration is a hand‑coloured stipple print that appeared in Boxiana on 19 August 1812. The artist and publisher was George Smeeton, who worked between 1800 and 1828. You can see the sitter—Henry Pearce—looking straight ahead; his face is rendered with fine stippling that captures subtle shadowing. His hat and coat are hinted at in warm tones added by hand. Notice how the stipple dots define the eyes and mouth, while colour washes soften the background. The paper itself has a gentle texture that adds depth to the image. This piece belongs to the National Portrait Gallery, having been lent by John Murray. Henry Pearce was a prize‑fighter who lived from 1777 to 1809; this is one of only two portraits that record his likeness.
See it in person
Henry Pearce 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.
