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The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders both past and present.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are warned that this website contains images of deceased persons.

Dempsey's people

Those of you who are active in social media circles may be aware that through the past week I have unleashed a blitz on Facebook and Instagram in connection with our new winter exhibition Dempsey’s People: A Folio of British Street Portraits, 1824−1844.

More information on Dempsey's people

Selected images

7 images
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Little John of Colchester, a poor lunatic, c.1823 by John Dempsey
Little John of Colchester, a poor lunatic, c.1823 by John Dempsey
Billy Bean, Butchers’ carrier, Scarborough, 1825 by John Dempsey
Billy Bean, Butchers’ carrier, Scarborough, 1825 by John Dempsey
Mary (or Elizabeth) Leagrove, attendant at the gaol, Ipswich, c. 1823 by John Dempsey
Mary (or Elizabeth) Leagrove, attendant at the gaol, Ipswich, c. 1823 by John Dempsey
Richard ‘Dickey’ Fletcher, bellman, Bridlington, c. 1825 by John Dempsey
Richard ‘Dickey’ Fletcher, bellman, Bridlington, c. 1825 by John Dempsey
Ann ‘Old Nanny’ Chapman, Bury St. Edmunds by John Dempsey
Ann ‘Old Nanny’ Chapman, Bury St. Edmunds by John Dempsey
Portrait of John Rutherford by John Dempsey
Portrait of John Rutherford by John Dempsey
Charles McGee, crossing sweeper, London, c. 1824 by John Dempsey
Charles McGee, crossing sweeper, London, c. 1824 by John Dempsey
7 images
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Related information

Copeman, gardener, Great Yarmouth by John Dempsey
Copeman, gardener, Great Yarmouth by John Dempsey
Copeman, gardener, Great Yarmouth by John Dempsey
Copeman, gardener, Great Yarmouth by John Dempsey

Dempsey's people

A folio of British street portraits 1824–1844

Previous exhibition, 2017

Dempsey’s people: a folio of British street portraits 1824–1844 is the first exhibition to showcase the compelling watercolour images of English street people made by the itinerant English painter John Dempsey throughout the first half of the nineteenth century.
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The National Portrait Gallery building front entrance
The National Portrait Gallery building front entrance
The National Portrait Gallery building front entrance

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The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders past and present. We respectfully advise that this site includes works by, images of, names of, voices of and references to deceased people.

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