Art UK has updated its cookies policy. By using this website you are agreeing to the use of cookies. To find out more read our updated Use of Cookies policy and our updated Privacy policy.

Sir Richard Francis Burton

Image credit: National Portrait Gallery, London

How you can use this image

This image can be used for non-commercial research or private study purposes, and other UK exceptions to copyright permitted to users based in the United Kingdom under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised. Any other type of use will need to be cleared with the rights holder(s).

Review the copyright credit lines that are located underneath the image, as these indicate who manages the copyright (©) within the artwork, and the photographic rights within the image.

The collection that owns the artwork may have more information on their own website about permitted uses and image licensing options.

Review our guidance pages which explain how you can reuse images, how to credit an image and how to find images in the public domain or with a Creative Commons licence available.

Notes

Add or edit a note on this artwork that only you can see. You can find notes again by going to the ‘Notes’ section of your account.

A great traveller and linguist. He was accompanied by John Hanning Speke on his African expeditions to Somalia (1854–1855) and search of the Nile's source (1856–1859). He reached Lake Tanganyika in February 1858, but failed to join Speke on his first visit to Lake Victoria. Burton was dismayed on his return to Britain to find that Speke had already promoted his theory that Victoria rather than Tanganyika was the Nile's source. He set forth his position with The Lake Regions of Central Africa (1860). Burton spent most of the rest of his life in consular posts from which he continued to travel. His many works include a translation of The Arabian Nights.This austere, ponderous and intense image of one of the great explorers of Victorian England captures his slightly brutal character very effectively.

National Portrait Gallery, London

London

Title

Sir Richard Francis Burton

Date

1872–1875

Medium

oil on canvas

Measurements

H 59.7 x W 49.5 cm

Accession number

1070

Acquisition method

Given by the artist's sisters, at his wish, 1896

Work type

Painting

Tags

See a tag that’s incorrect or offensive? Challenge it and notify Art UK.

Help improve Art UK. Tag artworks and verify existing tags by joining the Tagger community.

National Portrait Gallery, London

St Martin’s Place, London, Greater London WC2H 0HE England

This venue is open to the public. Not all artworks are on display. If you want to see a particular artwork, please contact the venue.
View venue