Updated October 2026 · ranked by our popularity score (searches, visits and orders for each work) · 105 works by John Collier in our catalogue
In short
Of all the originals John Collier left, the most famous is Godiva (1898), in the collection of the The Herbert Art Gallery and Museum, Coventry. Close behind it come Lilith (1887) and Priestess of Delphi (1891). Our catalog holds 105 works by John Collier; the gallery has kept the 100 the world admires most, each shown with its date, its museum and its story.
In the quiet corners of the Herbert Art Gallery and Museum in Coventry resides a masterpiece that transcends mere portraiture, inviting the viewer into a realm of profound stillness and historical myth. John Maler Collier’s Lady Godiva, executed at the turn of the century, is far more than a depiction of a legendary figure; it is a window into the late Victorian soul. The painting captures a moment of suspended…
In this 1887 oil painting, John Collier presents the Mesopotamian mythic figure Lilith. The subject is a nude woman with porcelain skin and long, golden hair. She exists within a primordial forest, a dense landscape of dark, brown-green foliage. A large serpent coils around her body, its scales contrasting against her pale flesh. The creature's head rests upon her shoulder in a heavy, silent embrace.
The work before us is titled Priestess of Delphi, a significant oil on canvas painted in 1891. It was executed by John Maler Collier OBE RP ROI, a prominent English artist and author who was a leading figure in portraiture during his era. Collier’s presence in the British art scene was marked by his ability to navigate both the formal requirements of high-society portraiture and the more narrative, dramatic demands…
The air feels heavy with the scent of damp earth and crushed ivy as she emerges from the thicket. She stands with a startling, quiet authority, her gaze meeting the viewer with a directness that feels almost intrusive, as if we have stumbled upon a private ritual. A wreath of ivy rests upon her head, its green leaves a stark contrast to the luminous quality of her skin. She does…
We are looking at The Sleeping Beauty, a work created in 1921 by the English artist John Maler Collier. This oil on canvas offers a quiet depiction of the classic fairy tale, focusing on the moment of rest within a storied narrative. The subject matter is drawn from the familiar legend, rendered through a lens of stillness and repose.
The photograph presented here offers a rare glimpse into a meticulously crafted portrait – that of Sir John Evans, painted by the renowned artist John Maler Collier in 1905. This image isn't merely a reproduction; it’s an echo of a bygone era, a testament to Collier’s mastery of Victorian portraiture and his unwavering dedication to capturing not just likeness, but also character and status. The stark black and white palette…
The painting titled A Fallen Idol was executed by the artist John Collier. This work is an oil on canvas that dates to 1913. The physical dimensions of the piece measure 167.6 cm in height and 137.1 cm in width.
John Collier painted this portrait of Thomas Henry Huxley in 1883. The subject was a prominent scientist and served as President of the Royal Society. Collier, a leading portraitist of his generation, captured the sitter during a period of significant intellectual influence. The work is part of the National Portrait Gallery collection in London.
George Smith by John Collier, an oil on canvas, presents a formal study of George Murray Smith. Executed in 1901, the portrait captures the subject in a manner consistent with the artist's mature period of portraiture. The work is currently held within the collection of the National Portrait Gallery, London.
Nettie and Joyce1890
12
Sir Ignatius Valentine Chirol1909 · National Portrait Gallery
13
Sir Michael Foster1907 · National Portrait Gallery
14
Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 7th Earl of Shaftesbury1877 · National Portrait Gallery
15
Sir George Biddell Airy, 1801-18921883 · National Maritime Museum
16
Portrait of Alma Tadema1884 · Te Whare O Rehua Sarjeant Gallery
17
Portrait of James Prescott Joule1882
18
Pope Urban VI1896
19
The Hon. Florence Rachel Hamilton-Russell (d.1957)1901 · Dudmaston Hall
20
William Hillier, 4th Earl of Onslow (1853-1911)1903 · Clandon Park
21
Thomas Smith, Surgeon to St Bartholomew's Hospital1901
22
Self portrait1907 · Te Whare O Rehua Sarjeant Gallery
23
John Clifford1915 · National Portrait Gallery
24
Clytemnestra1914
25
Sacred and Profane Love1919
26
Portrait of George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950), Dramatist1927 · National Gallery of Ireland
27
Sir Edward Augustus Inglefield1897 · National Portrait Gallery
28
Stepping Stones: Pamela1929
29
Sir George Williams1887 · National Portrait Gallery
30
Queen Guinevre's Maying1897
31
Marian Collier (née Huxley)1882 · National Portrait Gallery
32
Sir Ughtred Kay-Shuttleworth1884
33
Portrait of Laura Mary Stapleton1882
34
Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936)1891 · Bateman's
35
Sir George Williams1888
36
Portrait of a Gentleman in his Library1890 · Nationalmuseum
37
Rudyard Kipling1891
38
Sir Charles Tertius Mander1892
39
Portrait of Field-marshall B. F. Haines1891
40
William Herford Ancrum, Esq.1891
41
Water Baby1890
42
The Three Daughters of William Reed1886
43
William Charles Lucy1895
44
Sir Isaac Wilson1893
45
Sir Charles Hall, Recorder of London1895
46
Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936)1900 · Bateman's
47
Osborne Reynolds1904
48
Sir John Evans1905
49
Sir Charles Strickland1904
50
The Sinner1904
51
Sir Willoughby Heyett Dickinson1902
52
The Very Reverend John Julias Hannah1902
53
Sir Andrew Mitchell Torrance1902
54
The Prodigal Daughter1903
55
Portrait of James Talbot, 4th Baron Talbot de Malahide (1805-1883)National Gallery of Ireland
56
George John Warren Vernon, 5th Baron Vernon (1803-1866) (from a photograph of 1859)1908 · Sudbury Hall
57
All Hallowe'en
58
Portrait of Edward Henry Hurry
59
Sir William Mitchell Banks
60
Sir William Rose
61
Young Girl Draped in a Tiger Skin
62
Portrait of Sir John Lubbock, 1st Baron Avebury
63
Sir Edwin Cornwall1907
64
Portrait of Colonel Rowland John Beech
65
Sir Samuel Butler Provis1910
66
Sir John Bland-Sutton1911
67
The White Devil1909
68
Samuel Radcliffe Platt, Mayor of OldhamOldham Art Gallery
69
The Right Honourable T. F. Halsey1907
70
Vendetta1915
71
Pomps and Vanities1917
72
Theban Hills from Luxor1920
73
Sir Frederick George Banbury1920
74
Portrait of Unknown Soldier1921
75
Sir William Huggins1905 · National Portrait Gallery
76
Richard Hill Dawe, Solicitor to the Great Northern Railway1923
77
A Water Nymph1923
78
Portrait of the Artist's Daughter1929
79
William Kingdon Clifford1899 · National Portrait Gallery
80
The Right Honourable Samuel Cunliffe Lister1901
81
Portrait of Professor Huxley
82
The Spring Wood
83
Triple Portrait of a Woman
84
Sir George Campbell
85
Sir Charles Tertius Mander
86
Portrait of Mrs Adeline Hurry
87
Portrait of Mary Frances Wilson
88
Sir Francis Layland-Barratt
89
Samuel Whitbread
90
A view across Lake Como
91
Reclining Woman
92
Portrait of a Lady in Eastern Dress
93
Portrait of Mrs H. C. Marillier
94
Sir Landon Ronald, Principal of the Guildhall School of Music
95
Portrait of a Woman in Pink Dress
96
A Street in JerusalemOldham Art Gallery
97
William Fred Collier
98
The Queen's Shilling
99
Sentence of Death
100
William Nicholson
The four subjects that come back most often in these originals, each with its finest example.
The 8 museums that hold the most of the paintings on this page.
| Museum | City | Works by John Collier | Paintings from this list |
|---|---|---|---|
 National Portrait Gallery |
London | 11 | Thomas Henry Huxley, George Smith, Sir Ignatius Valentine Chirol |
 Te Whare O Rehua Sarjeant Gallery |
2 | Portrait of Alma Tadema, Self portrait | |
 National Gallery of Ireland |
Dublin City | 2 | Portrait of George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950), Dramatist, Portrait of James Talbot, 4th Baron Talbot de Malahide (1805-1883) |
 Bateman's |
2 | Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936), Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936) | |
 Oldham Art Gallery |
Oldham | 2 | Samuel Radcliffe Platt, Mayor of Oldham, A Street in Jerusalem |
 The Herbert Art Gallery and Museum |
Coventry | 1 | Godiva |
 Art Gallery of South Australia |
Adelaide | 1 | Priestess of Delphi |
 Ashmolean Museum |
Oxford | 1 | Sir John Evans |
Pick a decade to see the original that defines it.
This oil on canvas portrait presents Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 7th Earl of Shaftesbury. Painted in 1877 by John Collier, the work captures the subject with a quiet, formal dignity. Collier, a prominent English artist of his generation, brings a sense of gravity to this depiction of the Earl. The portrait is part of the collection at the National Portrait Gallery in the United Kingdom, where it is held under the NPG…
In this 1887 oil painting, John Collier presents the Mesopotamian mythic figure Lilith. The subject is a nude woman with porcelain skin and long, golden hair. She exists within a primordial forest, a dense landscape of dark, brown-green foliage. A large serpent coils around her body, its scales contrasting against her pale flesh. The creature's head rests upon her shoulder in a heavy, silent embrace.
In the quiet corners of the Herbert Art Gallery and Museum in Coventry resides a masterpiece that transcends mere portraiture, inviting the viewer into a realm of profound stillness and historical myth. John Maler Collier’s Lady Godiva, executed at the turn of the century, is far more than a depiction of a legendary figure; it is a window into the late Victorian soul. The painting captures a moment of suspended…
The photograph presented here offers a rare glimpse into a meticulously crafted portrait – that of Sir John Evans, painted by the renowned artist John Maler Collier in 1905. This image isn't merely a reproduction; it’s an echo of a bygone era, a testament to Collier’s mastery of Victorian portraiture and his unwavering dedication to capturing not just likeness, but also character and status. The stark black and white palette…
The painting titled A Fallen Idol was executed by the artist John Collier. This work is an oil on canvas that dates to 1913. The physical dimensions of the piece measure 167.6 cm in height and 137.1 cm in width.
We are looking at The Sleeping Beauty, a work created in 1921 by the English artist John Maler Collier. This oil on canvas offers a quiet depiction of the classic fairy tale, focusing on the moment of rest within a storied narrative. The subject matter is drawn from the familiar legend, rendered through a lens of stillness and repose.
Godiva (1898), The Herbert Art Gallery and Museum, Coventry. Lilith (1887) and Priestess of Delphi (1891) come next.
48 years old: Godiva dates from 1898, and John Collier was born in 1850.
Godiva, Lilith, Priestess of Delphi, The Priestess of Bacchus, The Sleeping Beauty, Sir John Evans, A Fallen Idol, Thomas Henry Huxley, George Smith and Trompe l'oeil painting. The ranking above gives each one's year and museum.
Our catalog holds 105 works by John Collier, dated from 1877 to 1929.
Mostly in National Portrait Gallery (London), Te Whare O Rehua Sarjeant Gallery and National Gallery of Ireland (Dublin City). The museum table above lists them all.
In 1900s: 23 of the 100 works on this page were made then, Sir John Evans among them.
On this page, the earliest is Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 7th Earl of Shaftesbury (1877) and the latest Stepping Stones: Pamela (1929).
Men (16), Portraits (14) and Victorian era (11), across the 100 works on this page.
Oil On Canvas, for 20 of the 100 works on this page.
Pre-raphaelite, judging by the originals on this page.
Thomas Henry Huxley, George Smith and Sir Ignatius Valentine Chirol: the National Portrait Gallery, London holds 11 of the works on this page.
John Maler Collier OBE RP ROI was a prominent English artist and author, celebrated as a leading portrait painter of his generation. His artistic style leaned heavily into the Pre-Raphaelite aesthetic, characterized by meticulous detail, vibrant colors, and a focus on narrative storytelling within portraits.
