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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.

Unknown drawer

Dempsey’s People curator David Hansen chronicles a research tale replete with serendipity, adventure and Tasmanian tigers.

More information on Unknown drawer

Selected images

13 images
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Mary (or Diana) Croker, mat woman, Colchester, 1823 by John Dempsey
Mary (or Diana) Croker, mat woman, Colchester, 1823 by John Dempsey
Robert Bloomfield, the poet, 1823 by John Dempsey
Robert Bloomfield, the poet, 1823 by John Dempsey
Old soldier, Hadleigh by John Dempsey
Old soldier, Hadleigh by John Dempsey
Charles Mackey, c. 1820s by William Roberts (after J. Tillotson)
Charles Mackey, c. 1820s by William Roberts (after J. Tillotson)
Charles McGee, crossing sweeper, London, c. 1824 by John Dempsey
Charles McGee, crossing sweeper, London, c. 1824 by John Dempsey
Copeman, gardener, Great Yarmouth by John Dempsey
Copeman, gardener, Great Yarmouth by John Dempsey
Sand-man, Whitby, c. 1825 by John Dempsey
Sand-man, Whitby, c. 1825 by John Dempsey
Mark Custings, known as Blind Peter, and his boy, Norwich, 1823 by John Dempsey
Mark Custings, known as Blind Peter, and his boy, Norwich, 1823 by John Dempsey
Billy the match man, Liverpool, c. 1820s by John Dempsey
Billy the match man, Liverpool, c. 1820s by John Dempsey
Billy the match man, Liverpool, 1844 by John Dempsey
Billy the match man, Liverpool, 1844 by John Dempsey
Sharp, orange man, Colchester, 1823 by John Dempsey
Sharp, orange man, Colchester, 1823 by John Dempsey
Portrait of John Rutherford by John Dempsey
Portrait of John Rutherford by John Dempsey
David Hansen
David Hansen
13 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
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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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