Portrait of George Meredith
William Strang (1859-1921)
1908
Oil on canvas
15 3/4 in. x 11 3/4 in. (400 mm x 298 mm)
© National Portrait Gallery, London (NPG 1908)
Purchased 1921
The novelist and poet George Meredith (1828-1909) received the O. M. in 1905. He wrote to his friend Alice Butcher on 19 April 1908 about "sitting to Mr. Strang on behalf of the King for members of the 0. M. to be hung in the Library at Windsor – my worn old features!" (616). In poor health now, he does indeed look pinched and weary, though still with a fine head of hair and neatly trimmed silvery beard. He died just over a year later, aged 81. – Jacqueline Banerjee [Click on the image to enlarge it, and mouse over the text for links.]