Tate and the National Portrait Gallery jointly acquire rare self-portrait by William Dobson
The greatest British portrait painter of the 17th century will be reunited with his wife this November.
LONDON.—
Tate and the National Portrait Gallery today announce that they are jointly acquiring the earliest known work by William Dobson, widely considered to be the first great British painter. Previously held in a private collection, this self-portrait has now been saved for the nation thanks to a £1.6 million grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, major support from Art Fund and the Deborah Loeb Brice Foundation, and additional support from a generous group of trusts, foundations and individuals. The painting is being purchased at a special price of £2,367,405 by private treaty sale through negotiations brokered by Hazlitt.
The self-portrait will go on free public display at Tate Britain in November, where it will be reunited with Dobson’s portrait of his wife, created at around the same time and already held in Tate’s collection. The painting will then set off on a tour of the UK before returning to London to be shown at the National Portrait Gallery, where it will join a display of other important self-portraits by 17th century masters, including Sir Anthony van Dyck. In future, the portrait will be shared by the two institutions as well as being available to other museums as part of the national collection.
William Dobson (1611–46) holds a pivotal place in the story of British art. He assumed the role of Charles I’s official painter after the death of the Flemish artist Sir Anthony van Dyck. Based at the King’s exiled court in Oxford during the English Civil War, Dobson was celebrated for his baroque portraits of Cavaliers, images which bear witness to one of the most tempestuous periods in the country’s history. Hailed at the time as “the most excellent painter that England hath yet bred”, his career was cut tragically short when he died at the age of 35.
Dobson’s painting of himself as a young man was made between 1635 and 1640 in London, before he arrived at the King’s court in Oxford, and is one of the earliest examples of English self-portraiture. An exceptionally rare work, it has an honesty and intimacy that defied the conventions of 17th century British art. Dobson used thickly applied paint to create an almost bohemian vision of the artist, with wild hair and a melancholy gaze, in stark opposition to the carefully posed elegance of his contemporaries.
Maria Balshaw, Director of Tate, said: “In many ways William Dobson was Britain’s answer to Rembrandt. He imbued his subjects with a profound psychological depth, never more so than in this powerful self-portrait. Tate and the National Portrait Gallery have wanted to bring this work into public ownership for decades and I’m delighted that we have finally been able to do so. This extraordinary piece of British heritage has now been saved for future generations to enjoy for free.”
Victoria Siddall, Director of the National Portrait Gallery, said: “We are delighted to have brought this wonderful self-portrait by William Dobson into the collection, and to have collaborated with Tate to ensure that the work is saved for the nation. This is thanks to the support of The National Lottery Heritage Fund and National Lottery players, Art Fund and a number of very generous individuals. This work is a vital part of the history of portraiture and is also one of only two works to have survived from the beginning of Dobson's career, so we are thrilled to be able to share it with audiences in London and around the country.”
Arts Minister, Sir Chris Bryant, said: "I'm delighted that this joint acquisition between the Tate and the National Portrait Gallery will keep this important Dobson work in the country. Its tour around the UK will allow people far and wide to enjoy it and learn about the history of one of Britain's greatest portrait painters."
Eilish McGuinness, Chief Executive of The National Lottery Heritage Fund said: “This self-portrait by William Dobson is truly significant, as a rare painting it will now be part of the national collection and protected forever. The painting has been saved for the public by the public, thanks to money raised by National Lottery players, and fittingly will now be shared with art lovers across the UK when it goes on tour. At the Heritage Fund, our ambition is to connect people and communities to the UK’s remarkable heritage and this was always at the heart of the vision for this masterpiece’s long-term future.”
Jenny Waldman, Director, Art Fund, said: “This is a landmark acquisition: a rare self-portrait by one of Britain’s first great painters, now saved for the nation and made accessible to all. William Dobson’s work offers a window into 17th-century Britain, and it’s a triumph to see this exceptional painting secured through the collective efforts of funders, generous individuals and two of our celebrated national museums. We are proud that Art Fund’s support has helped to ensure the work can be enjoyed by the public for generations to come.”
William Dobson’s Self-Portrait c.1635-40 is being purchased jointly by the Board of Trustees of the National Portrait Gallery and Tate, 2025. The acquisition is made possible thanks to exceptional support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, major support from Art Fund and the Deborah Loeb Brice Foundation, and additional support from the Portrait Fund, the Nicholas Themans Trust, Bjorn Saven CBE, David and Emma Verey Charitable Trust, John J. Studzinski CBE, The Leche Trust, The Murray Family, Tavolozza Foundation and other generous supporters.
