Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener
- Artist: Frederick Goodall
- Artist: Sir Hubert von Herkomer
- Date: 1890
- Medium: oil on canvas
- Dimensions: 55 in. x 43 in. (1397 mm x 1092 mm)
- Portrays: Horatio Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener of Khartoum
- Museum: The National Portrait Gallery
- Collection record: The National Portrait Gallery website
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About this artwork
This painting is a lively imperial portrait. The field‑marshal sits at the center, his coat of drill khakis hanging from shoulder to waist. He wears a peaked cap, epaulettes, and a neatly tied sash, all rendered in crisp oil strokes that catch light across the canvas. In the background we can see Cairo’s flat horizon, almost monochrome, suggesting distance yet anchoring Kitchener in his command post. The artist duo—Sir Hubert von Herkomer and Frederick Goodall—worked together in 1890 to capture the general before he became Sirdar of the Egyptian army. This oil on canvas measures about 55 by 43 inches, a size that lets you read each line of detail without strain.
See it in person
Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener 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.
