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The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders both past and present.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are warned that this website contains images of deceased persons.

Allow me to introduce...

These full-length figures in watercolour, gouache and pencil date mostly from the 1820s, and almost all come from the collection of the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, Hobart.

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Selected images

25 images
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Bathing woman, Bridlington, c.1825 by John Dempsey
Bathing woman, Bridlington, c.1825 by John Dempsey
A maniac by John Dempsey
A maniac by John Dempsey
Copeman, gardener, Great Yarmouth by John Dempsey
Copeman, gardener, Great Yarmouth by John Dempsey
Old Joe of Portsmouth by John Dempsey
Old Joe of Portsmouth by John Dempsey
Billman, 1825 by John Dempsey
Billman, 1825 by John Dempsey
Pember of Bath by John Dempsey
Pember of Bath by John Dempsey
‘Perpendicular’, York by John Dempsey
‘Perpendicular’, York by John Dempsey
‘Cotton’, Norwich, c.1823 by John Dempsey
‘Cotton’, Norwich, c.1823 by John Dempsey
Sand-man, Whitby, c. 1825 by John Dempsey
Sand-man, Whitby, c. 1825 by John Dempsey
Ann ‘Old Nanny’ Chapman, Bury St. Edmunds by John Dempsey
Ann ‘Old Nanny’ Chapman, Bury St. Edmunds by John Dempsey
Tailor's man, Scarborough, 1825 by John Dempsey
Tailor's man, Scarborough, 1825 by John Dempsey
Porter, Charing Cross, 1824 by John Dempsey
Porter, Charing Cross, 1824 by John Dempsey
Black Charley, Norwich, 1823 by John Dempsey
Black Charley, Norwich, 1823 by John Dempsey
Robert Bloomfield, the poet, 1823 by John Dempsey
Robert Bloomfield, the poet, 1823 by John Dempsey
Tommy Raeburn, the Ayrshire Hermit, c. 1830s by John Dempsey
Tommy Raeburn, the Ayrshire Hermit, c. 1830s by John Dempsey
Cary, Billsticker, Great Yarmouth, 1823 by John Dempsey
Cary, Billsticker, Great Yarmouth, 1823 by John Dempsey
Billy Bean, Butchers’ carrier, Scarborough, 1825 by John Dempsey
Billy Bean, Butchers’ carrier, Scarborough, 1825 by John Dempsey
Samuel Hevens, Jewish old clothes man, Greenwich, 1824 by John Dempsey
Samuel Hevens, Jewish old clothes man, Greenwich, 1824 by John Dempsey
Mary (or Elizabeth) Leagrove, attendant at the gaol, Ipswich, c. 1823 by John Dempsey
Mary (or Elizabeth) Leagrove, attendant at the gaol, Ipswich, c. 1823 by John Dempsey
David Love, commonly called the Nottingham Poet, 1824 by John Dempsey
David Love, commonly called the Nottingham Poet, 1824 by John Dempsey
Doorkeeper, Royal Grand National Menagerie, Exeter ‘Change, London, c.1824 by John Dempsey
Doorkeeper, Royal Grand National Menagerie, Exeter ‘Change, London, c.1824 by John Dempsey
Mary (or Diana) Croker, mat woman, Colchester, 1823 by John Dempsey
Mary (or Diana) Croker, mat woman, Colchester, 1823 by John Dempsey
Little John of Colchester, a poor lunatic, c.1823 by John Dempsey
Little John of Colchester, a poor lunatic, c.1823 by John Dempsey
John Wardle, Sunderland, 1825 by John Dempsey
John Wardle, Sunderland, 1825 by John Dempsey
John Hallam, Derby, c. 1820s by John Dempsey
John Hallam, Derby, c. 1820s by John Dempsey
25 images
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© National Portrait Gallery 2025
King Edward Terrace, Parkes
Canberra, ACT 2600, Australia
Phone +61 2 6102 7000
ABN: 54 74 277 1196

The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders past and present. We respectfully advise that this site includes works by, images of, names of, voices of and references to deceased people.

This website comprises and contains copyrighted materials and works. Copyright in all materials and/or works comprising or contained within this website remains with the National Portrait Gallery and other copyright owners as specified.

The National Portrait Gallery respects the artistic and intellectual property rights of others. The use of images of works of art reproduced on this website and all other content may be restricted under the Australian Copyright Act 1968 (Cth). Requests for a reproduction of a work of art or other content can be made through a Reproduction request. For further information please contact NPG Copyright.

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