Arthur Murphy
- Artist: Nathaniel Dance (later Sir Nathaniel Holland, Bt)
- Date: 1777
- Medium: oil on canvas
- Dimensions: 50 in. x 40 in. (1270 mm x 1016 mm)
- Portrays: Arthur Murphy
- Museum: The National Portrait Gallery
- Collection record: The National Portrait Gallery website
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About this artwork
In this portrait of Arthur Murphy, the Irish writer and actor, you see him seated in a dim room with a book in hand. He looks up as if reading has been interrupted by an unseen visitor, giving his face a candid expression. The canvas is rich in oil washes; Nathaniel Dance uses subtle light to highlight the sitter’s features and the worn pages of the book. Completed in 1777, this work reflects the style of that year’s London literary circle, of which Murphy was a member through Samuel Johnson’s “Club.” Notice the faint curtains behind him and the warm glow framing his portrait.
See it in person
Arthur Murphy is in the collection of The National Portrait Gallery at St Martin's Place, London — free to enter. Point your phone at any artwork there and audioguide.london plays a free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
