George Whitefield
(1714-1770), Methodist leaderEarly Georgian Portraits Catalogue Entry
Sitter in 14 portraits
Whitefield was a major force in the development of Methodism and the widespread evangelical revival of the early eighteenth century. In the 1730s he was a member of John Wesley's 'Holy Club' at Oxford but, favouring a more Calvinistic form of Methodism, Whitefield broke from Wesley in 1741. The Anglican Church had not assigned him pulpit so he began preaching in parks and fields in England on his own, reaching out to people who normally did not attend church. Whitefield's fervour, his small stature, and even his cross-eyed appearance all served to make him popular in Wales and Scotland as well as in America. His sermons were often advertised before he arrived to ensure large turnouts.
George Whitefield (George Whitefield; possibly Elizabeth James (née Burnell))
by John Wollaston
oil on canvas, circa 1742
NPG 131
by John Russell
oil on canvas laid on board, 1770?
NPG 1792
by John Faber Jr, published by James Hutton, after G. Beard
mezzotint, circa 1738-1756
NPG D4776
'The Parallel Reformers' (George Whitefield; John Wyclif)
after Unknown artist
etching and line engraving, 1740
NPG D43261
by John Faber Jr, printed for John Bowles, after John Wollaston
mezzotint, (circa 1742)
NPG D4782
after M. Jenkin
mezzotint, circa 1750-1800
NPG D4781
Parrawankaw; George Whitefield
after Unknown artist
line and stipple engraving, circa 1760s
NPG D8312
by John Greenwood, published by Robert Sayer, after Nathaniel Hone
mezzotint, (circa 1768)
NPG D4777
by John Greenwood, published by Carington Bowles, after Nathaniel Hone
mezzotint, published 1769
NPG D4778
published by Robert Sayer, after Nathaniel Hone
mezzotint, published circa 1769
NPG D14225
by Johann Elias Haid, after M. Jenkin
mezzotint, 1783
NPG D4780
published by Bowles & Carver, after Nathaniel Hone
mezzotint, circa 1790-1830
NPG D4779
by Andrew Miller, after M. Jenkin
mezzotint, circa 1725-1750
NPG D20384
by Victor Marie Picot, after Nathaniel Hone
line engraving, circa 1775-1800
NPG D20488
Comments back to top
We are currently unable to accept new comments, but any past comments are available to read below.
If you need information from us, please use our Archive enquiry service . Please note that we cannot provide valuations. You can buy a print or greeting card of most illustrated portraits. Select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Buy a Print button. Prices start at around £6 for unframed prints, £16 for framed prints. If you wish to license an image, select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Use this image button, or contact our Rights and Images service. We digitise over 8,000 portraits a year and we cannot guarantee being able to digitise images that are not already scheduled.