This exhibition explores portraits of the women who were pioneers in positions of leadership at Bedford and Royal Holloway Colleges, two of the first institutions offering women a university-level education in Britain. When Royal Holloway College and Bedford College merged in 1985, their portraits came together to form a unique collection, a visual realization of the intersection between the history of women’s higher education and the development of modern portraiture.

Artists featured in this Curation: Percy Bigland (1858–1926), Theodore Blake Wirgman (1848–1925), Reginald Grenville Eves (1876–1941), Francis Dodd (1874–1949), Herbert James Gunn (1893–1964), James Jebusa Shannon (1862–1923), Philip Alexius de László (1869–1937), William Orpen (1878–1931) and David Jagger (1891–1958)
12 artworks
Storyline Album Showcase
Henrietta Busk
Image credit: Royal Holloway, University of London

Henrietta Busk 1884 (?)

Percy Bigland (1858–1926)

Oil on canvas

H 101.6 x W 76.2 cm

Royal Holloway, University of London

Millicent Garrett Fawcett (1847–1929)
Image credit: Royal Holloway, University of London

Millicent Garrett Fawcett (1847–1929) c.1898

Theodore Blake Wirgman (1848–1925)

Oil on canvas

H 111.2 x W 86.5 cm

Royal Holloway, University of London

Dame Margaret Janson Tuke (1862–1947)
Image credit: Royal Holloway, University of London

Dame Margaret Janson Tuke (1862–1947) 1914–1915

Reginald Grenville Eves (1876–1941)

Oil on canvas

H 122 x W 78 cm

Royal Holloway, University of London

Dame Margaret Janson Tuke (1862–1947)
Image credit: Royal Holloway, University of London

Dame Margaret Janson Tuke (1862–1947) 1914–1915

Reginald Grenville Eves (1876–1941)

Oil on canvas

H 75.5 x W 62.5 cm

Royal Holloway, University of London

Dame Margaret Janson Tuke (1862–1947)
Image credit: Royal Holloway, University of London

Dame Margaret Janson Tuke (1862–1947) 1934

Francis Dodd (1874–1949)

Oil on canvas

H 63.5 x W 50.8 cm

Royal Holloway, University of London

Miss Geraldine E. M. Jebb, CBE
© estate of the artist. Image credit: Royal Holloway, University of London

Miss Geraldine E. M. Jebb, CBE 1952

Herbert James Gunn (1893–1964)

Oil on canvas

H 111.8 x W 91.5 cm

Royal Holloway, University of London

Miss Matilda Ellen Bishop
Image credit: Royal Holloway, University of London

Miss Matilda Ellen Bishop 1897

James Jebusa Shannon (1862–1923)

Oil on canvas

H 125.7 x W 101.6 cm

Royal Holloway, University of London

Dame Emily Penrose (1858–1942)
Image credit: Royal Holloway, University of London

Dame Emily Penrose (1858–1942) 1907

Philip Alexius de László (1869–1937)

Oil on canvas

H 116.8 x W 91.5 cm

Royal Holloway, University of London

Sketch for 'Dame Emily Penrose (1858–1942)'
Image credit: Royal Holloway, University of London

Sketch for 'Dame Emily Penrose (1858–1942)' 1907

Philip Alexius de László (1869–1937)

Oil on canvas

H 34 x W 24.3 cm

Royal Holloway, University of London

Elizabeth Maude Guinness
Image credit: Royal Holloway, University of London

Elizabeth Maude Guinness 1910

Philip Alexius de László (1869–1937)

Oil on canvas

H 101.6 x W 76.2 cm

Royal Holloway, University of London

Miss Ellen Charlotte Higgins
Image credit: Royal Holloway, University of London

Miss Ellen Charlotte Higgins 1926

William Orpen (1878–1931)

Oil on canvas

H 125.7 x W 101.6 cm

Royal Holloway, University of London

Miss Janet Ruth Bacon
© the artist's estate. Image credit: Royal Holloway, University of London

Miss Janet Ruth Bacon 1946

David Jagger (1891–1958)

Oil on canvas

H 76.2 x W 63.5 cm

Royal Holloway, University of London

Explore artists in this Curation

  • Lord Baden-Powell (1857–1941), as World Chief Scout
    David Jagger (1891–1958)
  • John Bellows (1831–1901), Gloucester Printer
    Percy Bigland (1858–1926)
  • Reverend Robert Wilson, DD, Warden (1889–1897)
    Theodore Blake Wirgman (1848–1925)
  • Victoria Mary 'Vita' Sackville-West (1892–1962), Later Lady Nicholson
    Philip Alexius de László (1869–1937)
  • Ready to Start: Self Portrait
    William Orpen (1878–1931)
  • Sir James Jebusa Shannon
    James Jebusa Shannon (1862–1923)
  • Pauline Waiting
    Herbert James Gunn (1893–1964)
  • Thomas Hardy (1840–1928)
    Reginald Grenville Eves (1876–1941)
  • Afternoon in the Parlour
    Francis Dodd (1874–1949)