John Everett MillaisBritish, 1829–1896Edward Robert Bulwer Lytton, First Earl Lytton
Can I see it?
Not on view at present
Where is “Edward Robert Bulwer Lytton, First Earl Lytton” now? Collection: Victoria and Albert Museum, London. Not on view at present. Checked September 25, 2026.
London, United Kingdom
It belongs to the collection, but is not on display at present.
- Checked
- In this state since
- Source
- The museum
About the painting
This portrait of Edward Robert Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Earl Lytton (1831-91), statesman and poet, was commissioned by John Forster, who is best known as Charles Dickens's biographer. It was to be a reminder of his friend, who was about to set sail to India to take up the appointment of Viceroy. Sadly, Forster died before he saw the portrait. It is life-size and outstanding for the directness of the subject's outward-looking gaze. When it was exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1876, the Art Journal considered it to be one of the 'notable portraits of the year'. Millais was the most celebrated portrait painter in Britain at the time that he painted it.
Victoria and Albert Museum
Details
- Accession number
- F.146
What it shows
In the catalog
Sources
- Victoria and Albert Museum
- Image: Victoria and Albert Museum — © Victoria and Albert Museum, London
![Study of a Pottery Jug [recto], John Everett Millais, c. 1842](https://api.nga.gov/iiif/bd3617b6-ebda-468c-9b54-142851ab029e/full/!2400,2400/0/default.jpg)
