PORTRAIT OF THE REVEREND WILLIAM GASKELL.

Photos: Jonathan Russell.

  • Title(s): Portrait of the Reverend William Gaskell (this web site); The Reverend William Gaskell (artuk.org); The Rev. William Gaskell (1923 exhibition).
  • Description: “Half length, three-quarter left side portrait of Unitarian minister Reverend William Gaskell. An elderly man with white hair and white side burns, wearing a black jacket and a neck tie, he is shown sitting to the side of a table to the right, on which lies a folded newspaper, with his hands clasped together in his lap. There is a plain shadowy background, inscribed to the right above the sitter’s shoulder: ‘GVLIELMVS GASKELL / AET AT LXXIII / MDCCCLXXIX'” (artuk.org).
  • Media: Oil on canvas (artuk.org).
  • Dimensions: “H 86.6 x W 71.1 cm” (artuk.org).
  • Signature/date/other text: “nscribed to the right above the sitter’s shoulder: ‘GVLIELMVS GASKELL / AET AT LXXIII / MDCCCLXXIX'” (artuk.org); signed with monogram of the letter A, L and R combined.
  • History:
    • 1879 – Monogram and dated.
    • 1879 – Presented to Rev. Gaskell at Portico Library, Mosley Street, Manchester.
    • 1923 – Exhibited Manchester Art Gallery.
    • 1913 – Bequeathed [to Manchester Art Gallery] by Mrs M. E. Gaskell (5 Feb 1837 – 26 Oct 1913, daughter of William Gaskell).
    • 1914 – Exhibited Manchester Art Gallery
    • Date? – On loan to Elizabeth Gaskell’s House, on display in the study.
    • 2018-2019 – Exhibited Manchester Art Gallery, 23 Feb 2018 to 6 Jan 2019 [suspension of loan to Elizabeth Gaskell’s House for the duration of the exhibition].
  • Location: Elizabeth Gaskell’s House, on loan from Manchester Art Gallery.

Annie “was invited to paint the portrait on the recommendation of the sitter’s daughters, Meta and Julia. It was her most important commission to date. Meta and Julia also helped her establish her artistic career in London. They introduced her to artists John Everett Millais and Edward Burne-Jones”. (Notice by picture, Manchester Art Gallery, 2018.)

William Gaskell himself chose to be painted by Annie in 1879, remarking “My daughters tell me that she has painted a portrait which they like very much“. (Rev. Gaskell quoted in B. Brill, William Gaskell, 1805-84: a portrait, Manchester Literary and Philosophical Publications, 110-11.)

This morning … a bust of the Rev. W. Gaskell was presented to the institution [Portico Library, Mosley Street, Manchester], and … a portrait of the rev. gentleman was presented to himself. … The bust, which is one of white marble, has been executed by Mr. J. W. Swinnerton … The portrait has been painted by Miss A. Robinson, of Manchester, and is an excellent likeness.Manchester Evening News, 3 Oct 1979.

William Gaskell was a charity worker and supporter of working class educational needs. His wife was novelist and biographer of Charlotte Brontë, Elizabeth Gaskell.

Page last updated 1 Nov 2025.