James Wolfe
- Artist: Joseph Wilton
- Date: circa 1760
- Medium: plaster
- Dimensions: 29 1/2 in. x 22 1/2 in. (750 mm x 570 mm) overall
- Portrays: James Wolfe
- Museum: The National Portrait Gallery
- Collection record: The National Portrait Gallery website
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About this artwork
This plaster bust of General James Wolfe was made in about 1760 by sculptor Joseph Wilton. You see a close‑up profile of the face, with details that capture his solemn expression. The shoulders are wrapped in classical Roman armor, while on each side there is a small wolf motif—an elegant visual pun on Wolfe’s name and reputation for stealth. Wilton, who supposedly inspected Wolfe’s corpse to get his likeness, used those observations together with personal sketches to create a heroic memorial that contemporaries celebrated. The bust sits at about 30 by 22 inches, giving it a solid presence in the gallery. It reminds us that Wolfe was the general who led Britain’s forces to capture Quebec, ending French rule over Canada and its Inuit peoples.
See it in person
James Wolfe 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.
