author
George Scharf
1820–1895
A sharp-eyed Victorian art critic and illustrator, he became the National Portrait Gallery’s first director and helped shape how Britain preserved its visual history. His life joined scholarship, travel, and a real gift for looking closely at the past.
1 Audiobook
The Palace and Park Its Natural History, and Its Portrait Gallery, Together with a Description of the Pompeian Court
by Samuel Phillips, Edward Forbes, R. G. (Robert Gordon) Latham, Richard Owen, George Scharf, F. K. J. (Francis Kingston John) Shenton
About the author
Born in London on December 16, 1820, George Scharf was the son of the artist George Johann Scharf. He studied under his father and at the Royal Academy Schools, building strong skills as a draughtsman and illustrator early in life.
His career ranged widely. In the 1840s he traveled with archaeological expeditions in Asia Minor, producing drawings that were later published, and he also worked on books and displays connected with classical antiquity. These experiences helped make him known as a careful observer with a deep interest in art and historical evidence.
Scharf is best remembered as the first director of the National Portrait Gallery in London, serving from 1857 to 1894. In that role he played a major part in developing the collection and establishing high standards for documenting portraits, leaving a lasting mark on the study of British art and biography.