James Watt
- Artist: Carl Fredrik von Breda
- Date: 1792
- Medium: oil on canvas
- Dimensions: 49 1/2 in. x 39 1/2 in. (1257 mm x 1003 mm)
- Portrays: James Watt
- Museum: The National Portrait Gallery
- Collection record: The National Portrait Gallery website
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About this artwork
This oil‑on‑canvas portrait of James Watt was painted by the Swedish artist Carl Fredrik von Breda in 1792 during his visit to Birmingham. The canvas is almost five feet wide, giving ample space for the sitter’s full-length pose and the detailed plans spread before him. Watt sits with a thoughtful gaze toward us, holding a drawing that echoes the shape of his famous steam engine. Around him, simple furnishings hint at a modest workshop rather than a grand hall.
The painting captures a pivotal moment: Watt watching a kettle boil, realizing steam’s power, which later became the basis for his efficient engines. By 1800 over five hundred of those engines were running in Britain’s mines and mills. This work thus links the man with the machine that helped fuel the early Industrial Revolution.
See it in person
James Watt 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.
