Vilijam Pol Frith, 1819 – 1909

Vilijam Pol Frith Paintings: The 100 Most Famous Works, Ranked

Vilijam Pol Frith's most famous painting is The Derby Day (1858), in the Tate Britain, London. With Dr Johnson and Mrs Siddons in Bolt Court (1887) and John Knox Reproving Mary, Queen of Scots (1844), it completes the three works everyone recognises. Our catalogue lists 154 works by Vilijam Pol Frith; the 100 below are the ones the world looks at most, each with its year, the museum that holds it and why it matters.

Ranked by our popularity score, which combines the searches, visits and orders for each work. Updated октобар 2026. Every masterpiece on this page can be ordered as a museum-quality, hand-painted oil reproduction or a fine art print, at the size you choose.

Portrait of Vilijam Pol Frith
Vilijam Pol Frith · 1819 – 1909
Born · died
1819 – 1909, Aldfild
Movement
Romanticism
Works in our catalogue
154
Most famous
The Derby Day (1858)
Most works at
National Portrait Gallery

The 10 most famous Vilijam Pol Frith paintings

The Derby Day (1858) by Vilijam Pol Frith
1

The Derby Day

1858 · Oil On Canvas · Tate Britain, London

William Powell Frith's “The Derby Day,” painted in 1858, isn’t merely a depiction of a horse race; it’s a meticulously crafted panorama of Victorian society at its most vibrant and, frankly, its most stratified. Exhibited to immediate acclaim at the Royal Academy, this large oil painting captures a single afternoon – a fleeting moment frozen in time – yet offers an astonishingly detailed window into the lives, aspirations, and social…

John Knox Reproving Mary, Queen of Scots (1844) by Vilijam Pol Frith
3

John Knox Reproving Mary, Queen of Scots

1844 · Acrylic On Canvas · Sheffield City Art Galleries, Šefild

A Dramatic Encounter: Examining William Powell Frith’s “John Knox Reproving Mary” The painting "John Knox Reproving Mary," executed by William Powell Frith in 1844, stands as a cornerstone of Victorian genre art and a masterful depiction of a pivotal moment in Scottish history. More than just a visual record, it's an exploration of contrasting ideologies – piety versus pragmatism – skillfully rendered through meticulous observation and dramatic composition. The artwork…

William Powell Frith (1838) by Vilijam Pol Frith
4

William Powell Frith

1838 · Oil On Canvas · National Portrait Gallery, London

The young man in this oil on canvas is William Powell Frith, captured in a moment of quiet introspection. Painted in 1838, the work presents the artist as a nineteen-year-old student, peering out from a time when his professional path was just beginning to take shape. At this stage, he is a resident of 6 Charlotte Street, a location that marks his early presence in the London art scene. The…

Self-Portrait at the Age of 83 (1901) by Vilijam Pol Frith
6

Self-Portrait at the Age of 83

1901 · Oil On Canvas · Yale Center for British Art, New Haven

The oil painting titled Self-Portrait at the Age of 83 was executed by the artist William Powell Frith. Created in 1901, this work functions as a self-portrait, capturing the likeness of the artist himself. The subject depicted in the composition is William Powell Frith, presented in a bust-length view that focuses on the facial features and head of the sitter.

Vilijam Pol Frith, paintings 11 to 100

Eastham Ferry Boat (1862) by Vilijam Pol Frith
#12

Eastham Ferry Boat

1862 · Williamson Art Gallery - Museum

Eastham Ferry Boat: A Snapshot of Victorian Leisure William Powell Frith’s ‘Eastham Ferry Boat,’ completed in 1862, isn't merely a depiction of a seaside scene; it’s a meticulously…

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William Powell Frith (1867) by Vilijam Pol Frith
#13

William Powell Frith

1867 · National Portrait Gallery

This oil on canvas work, titled William Powell Frith, is a self-portrait executed by the artist William Powell Frith. The painting, which depicts the artist himself, was completed…

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Portrait of a Lady La Marquise (1885) by Vilijam Pol Frith
#21

Portrait of a Lady La Marquise

1885 · Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki

Portrait of a Lady La Marquise is an oil portrait by the British artist William Powell Frith. Executed in 1885, the work presents a young woman in a…

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The Sleeping Model (1853) by Vilijam Pol Frith
#29

The Sleeping Model

1853 · Royal Academy of Arts

In the quiet corners of a nineteenth-century studio, where the scent of oil paint and turpentine lingers, William Powell Frith captures a scene of profound, unexpected stillness. The…

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The Invalid (1890) by Vilijam Pol Frith
#44

The Invalid

1890 · Nottingham Castle Museum And Art Gallery

In the quiet corners of late nineteenth-century England, domestic life was often defined by a delicate balance of social propriety and deep-seated familial devotion. William Powell Frith’s 1890…

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Маленькая фигурка (1883) by Vilijam Pol Frith
#64

Маленькая фигурка

1883 · New Walk Museum - Art Gallery

William Powell Frith i njegova očarljivostna slika „The Miniature“ Slika „The Miniature“ od Vilijama Powella Fritha predstavlja izrazito zanimljiv primer umetnosti viktorijanske ere. Ova panoramska scena prikazuje ženu…

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Lancaster Sands, Lancashire (1848) by Vilijam Pol Frith
#65

Lancaster Sands, Lancashire

1848 · Touchstones Rochdale Arts And Heritage Centre

The painting Lancaster Sands, Lancashire is a beautiful depiction of people on the beach with horses and carriages. Created in 1848 by William Powell Frith, this oil on…

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The Railway Station - William Powell Frith (2026) by Vilijam Pol Frith
#66

The Railway Station - William Powell Frith

2026

William Powell Frith’s masterful depiction of a bustling railway station is more than just a painting; it's a vibrant snapshot of nineteenth-century England, teeming with life and narrative.…

Vilijam Pol Frith's paintings by period

The subjects Vilijam Pol Frith painted most

The four subjects that return most often among these masterpieces, with the finest example of each.

Where to see Vilijam Pol Frith's paintings

The 8 museums that hold the most of the paintings on this page.

Museum City Works by Vilijam Pol Frith Paintings from this list
National Portrait Gallery, LondonNational Portrait Gallery London 3 William Powell Frith, William Powell Frith, Mary Elizabeth Maxwell, née Braddon
Royal Collection, LondonRoyal Collection London 4 Anne Page, Queen Alexandra (1844-1925) when Princess of Wales
Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, BirmingemBirmingham Museum and Art Gallery Birmingem 2 Garden Flowers ( Making A Posy ), Retribution
Mercer Art Gallery, HarrogateMercer Art Gallery Harrogate 2 Many Happy Returns of the Day, L'adieu de Marie Stuart
Sheffield City Art Galleries, ŠefildSheffield City Art Galleries Šefild 2 John Knox Reproving Mary, Queen of Scots
Rhode Island School of Design Museum of Art, ProvidensRhode Island School of Design Museum of Art Providens 2 Feeding Time (My Lady's Pets)
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, OklendAuckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki Oklend 2 Portrait of a Lady La Marquise
Tate Britain, LondonTate Britain London 1 The Derby Day

Vilijam Pol Frith's most famous painting of each decade

  1. 1830s
    William Powell Frith (1838) by Vilijam Pol Frith
    Rank 4 / 100

    William Powell Frith

    Age 11 – 20 · National Portrait Gallery

    The young man in this oil on canvas is William Powell Frith, captured in a moment of quiet introspection. Painted in 1838, the work presents the artist as…

  2. 1840s
    John Knox Reproving Mary, Queen of Scots (1844) by Vilijam Pol Frith
    No. 3 of 100

    John Knox Reproving Mary, Queen of Scots

    Age 21 – 30 · Sheffield City Art Galleries

    A Dramatic Encounter: Examining William Powell Frith’s “John Knox Reproving Mary” The painting "John Knox Reproving Mary," executed by William Powell Frith in 1844, stands as a cornerstone…

  3. 1850s
    The Derby Day (1858) by Vilijam Pol Frith
    #1 of 100

    The Derby Day

    Age 31 – 40 · Tate Britain

    William Powell Frith's “The Derby Day,” painted in 1858, isn’t merely a depiction of a horse race; it’s a meticulously crafted panorama of Victorian society at its most…

  4. 1860s
  5. 1870s
  6. 1880s
  7. 1890s
    The Invalid (1890) by Vilijam Pol Frith
    No. 44 of 100

    The Invalid

    Age 71 – 80 · Nottingham Castle Museum And Art Gallery

    In the quiet corners of late nineteenth-century England, domestic life was often defined by a delicate balance of social propriety and deep-seated familial devotion. William Powell Frith’s 1890…

  8. 1900s
    Self-Portrait at the Age of 83 (1901) by Vilijam Pol Frith
    #6 of 100

    Self-Portrait at the Age of 83

    Age 81 – 90 · Yale Center for British Art

    The oil painting titled Self-Portrait at the Age of 83 was executed by the artist William Powell Frith. Created in 1901, this work functions as a self-portrait, capturing…

Questions about Vilijam Pol Frith's paintings

What is Vilijam Pol Frith's most famous painting?Show the answer

The Derby Day (1858), Tate Britain, London. Next come Dr Johnson and Mrs Siddons in Bolt Court (1887) and John Knox Reproving Mary, Queen of Scots (1844).

How old was Vilijam Pol Frith when The Derby Day was painted?Show the answer

39 years old: The Derby Day dates from 1858 and Vilijam Pol Frith was born in 1819.

What are the top 10 paintings by Vilijam Pol Frith?Show the answer

The Derby Day, Dr Johnson and Mrs Siddons in Bolt Court, John Knox Reproving Mary, Queen of Scots, William Powell Frith, King Henry And Anne Boleyn Deer Shooting, Self-Portrait at the Age of 83, The Duel Scene from 'Twelfth Night' by William Shakespeare, Garden Flowers ( Making A Posy ), Anne Page and Mr Honeywood Introduces the Bailiffs to Miss Richland as His Friends (also known as rom Oliver Goldsmith's 'The Good Natured Man', Act III, Scene 1). The ranking above gives the year and the museum of each.

How many paintings did Vilijam Pol Frith make?Show the answer

Our catalogue lists 154 works by Vilijam Pol Frith, dated from 1837 to 1901.

Where are Vilijam Pol Frith's most famous paintings?Show the answer

Most of them are in National Portrait Gallery (London), Royal Collection (London) and Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery (Birmingem). The table above lists the museums one by one.

When did Vilijam Pol Frith paint the most famous works?Show the answer

In 1860s: 11 of the 100 works on this page date from then, among them Feeding Time (My Lady's Pets).

What are Vilijam Pol Frith's earliest and latest famous paintings?Show the answer

The earliest on this page is My First Attempt from Nature (1837), the latest Self-Portrait at the Age of 83 (1901).

What did Vilijam Pol Frith paint most often?Show the answer

Victorian era (13), Portraiture (5) and Victorian society (4), among the 100 works on this page.

What medium did Vilijam Pol Frith use most?Show the answer

Oil On Canvas: 6 of the 100 works on this page.

Which art movement does Vilijam Pol Frith belong to?Show the answer

Romanticism, as the paintings on this page show.

Which Vilijam Pol Frith paintings can I see at the National Portrait Gallery?Show the answer

William Powell Frith, William Powell Frith and Mary Elizabeth Maxwell, née Braddon are among the 3 works on this page held by the National Portrait Gallery, London.

Can I buy a reproduction of a Vilijam Pol Frith painting?Show the answer

Yes. Every painting on this page can be ordered as a museum-quality, hand-painted oil reproduction or a fine art print, in the size you choose, from the painting's own page.

About Vilijam Pol Frith

Rani život i obrazovanje

  • Rođen: 9. januara 1819, Aldfield, blizu Ripona, Severni Jorkšir, Engleska
  • Preminuo: 2. novembra 1909, London
  • Otac Vilijama Pola Fritha bio je hoteljer u Harrogatu.
  • Prvobitno je nameravao da postane aukcionar, ali je njegov otac prepoznao njegov umetnički talenat.
  • Frith je studirao u Sasovoj akademiji u Charlotte Street u Londonu, a kasnije je pohađao škole Kraljevskog akademskog društva (Royal Academy Schools).
  • Rana karijera bila je fokusirana na portretno slikarstvo i književne motive (Šekspir, Skot).

Ključni momenti karijere i umetnički stil

  • Pripadnost: Član grupe „The Clique“ (Klika), oku umetnika koji su uključivali Ričarda Dada, Avgusta Ega, Henrija O'Neila, Džona Filipa, Edvarda Varda i Tomasa Kresvika.
  • Uticaji: Snažno pod uticajem Sir Dejvida Vilkija i njegove tematike svakodnevnog domaćinstva.
  • Žanrovsko slikarstvo i panoramski narativ: Frith je postao čuven po svojim detaljnim žanrovskim scenama i panoramskim narativnim delima koja prikazuju viktorijanski život u javnim prostorima.
  • Značajna dela:
    • Ramsgate Sands (1854): Prikazuje živopisnu scenu u primorskom odmaralištu Ramsgate.
    • The Derby Day (1858): Dočarava atmosferu i društvene interakcije na hipodromu Epsom Downs. Ova slika je bila neverovatno popularna, pa su čak bile potrebne ograde kako bi se kontrolisale gužve ljudi koji su je posmatrali.
    • The Railway Station (1862): Detaljan prikaz železničke stanice Paddington.
    • The Sleeping Model (1853): Predstavljena kao njegov diplomski rad u Kraljevskoj akademiji.
    • The Crossing Sweeper (prekrupati ulicu): Istražuje kontrast između bogatstva i siromaštva u Londonu.
  • Fotografski uticaj: Frith je koristio fotografske studije Roberta Howletta kako bi postigao neverovatnu detaljnost i preciznost u svojim slikama, naročito u delima poput The Derby Day.
  • Stil: Karakterišu ga pedantno posmatranje, veliki broj figura i fokus na beleženje detalja svakodnevnog života. Bio je poznat po svom realizmu i pažnji posvećenoj društvenoj kritici unutar svojih scena.

Razvoj i poznije godine

  • Autobiografije: Frith je napisao dve autobiografije, My Autobiography (1887) i Further Reminiscences (1888), koje pružaju uvid u viktorijansku umetnost i društvo.
  • Umetnički stavovi: Bio je tradicionalista i izražavao je protivljenje modernim umetničkim trendovima.
  • Član Kraljevskog akademskog društva: Izabran za člana Kraljevske akademije 1ast 1853. godine.
  • Dugovečnost: Frith je živeo neverovatno dug život, svedočivši značajnim promenama u svetu umetnosti tokom viktorijanske ere. Preživeo je mnoge svoje savremenike iz grupe „The Clique“.

Istorijski značaj i nasleđe

  • Njegova slika su pružila dragocen dokument o viktorijanskom društvu, beležeći njegovu društvenu dinamiku, modu i slobodne aktivnosti.
  • Popularnost i komercijalni uspeh: Frith je bio jedan od najuspešnijih umetnika svog vremena, a njegova dela su bila široko cenjena i tražena.
  • Uticaj na žanrovsko slikarstvo: Značajno je doprineo razvoju žanrovskog slikarstva u Britaniji, podigavši ga na nivo priznate umetničke forme.
  • Detaljni realizam: Njegova pedantna pažnja posvećena detaljima postavila je standard za realizam u viktorijanskoj umetnosti.
  • Nasleđe: Frithova dela se i dalje izlažu i proučavaju, nudeći jedinstven prozor u život 19. veka i učvršćujući njegovo mesto kao značajne figure u istoriji britanske umetnosti.

All 154 works by Vilijam Pol Frith →