The Library’s collection of artworks includes portraits of luminaries such as philosopher Bertrand Russell (1872-1970), biologist Thomas Huxley (1825-1895), and the freethought writer Chapman Cohen (1868-1954).

We have sculptures of political author Thomas Paine (1737-1809), designer and socialist William Morris (1834-1896), and the freethinker George Jacob Holyoake (1817-1906), amongst others, as well as numerous photographs from the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.

All of our art works are indexed and searchable via the catalogue.

The works can also be downloaded as a Portraits List

Whichever way you chose to learn more about our artworks, we hope you enjoy these unique portraits of remarkable men and women.

Annie Besant 1847-1933 Theosophist and politician By Hayman Selig Mendelssohn (1847-1908) Photograph

Charles Bradlaugh 1833-1891 Politician and freethinker Carbon print photograph

Charles Bradlaugh 1833-1891 Politician and freethinker Plaster bust by C. Holding 1894

Peter Cadogan 1921-2007 Lecturing By Alfred Head Watercolour 1977

Edward Clodd 1840-1930 Banker and popular anthropologist By John Collier (1850-1934) Oil on canvas

Fenner Brockway 1888-1988 Politician and campaigner Bronze statue by Ian Walters 1985

Alfred J. Clements 1858 – 1938 Organiser and secretary of the South Place Sunday Concerts 1887 – 1938 Gold in-laid relief plaque

Chapman Cohen 1868-1954 Freethought writer and lecturer, editor of The Freethinker By John Henry Amshewitz (1882-1942) Oil on canvas

Stanton Coit 1857-1944 Minister at South Place 1888-1892 Bronze bust on marble base, English school

Ellen Dana Conway 1833-1897 Mrs Moncure Daniel Conway Toned bromide photo-print 1897

Ellen Dana Conway 1833–1897 Mrs Moncure Daniel Conway By Arthur Hughes (1832–1915) Oil on panel 1873

Moncure Daniel Conway 1832-1907 Minister at South Place 1864-1884 and 1892-1897 By Clara MacChesney Oil on canvas

Moncure Daniel Conway 1832-1907 Minister at South Place 1864-1884 and 1892-1897 By Rowland Holyoake Oil on canvas

Moncure D. Conway 1832-1907 Minister at South Place 1864-1884 and 1892-1897 Print Early 20th century

Ralph Waldo Emerson 1803-1882 American poet and essayist Plaster bust, English, 19th century

Epicurus 341 BCE-270 BCE Greek philosopher Terracotta mask 20th century

George William Foote 1850-1915 Radical journalist and secularist, founder of The Freethinker Photograph

Eliza Flower 1803-1846 Radical and composer Tinted lithograph of a drawing by Mrs E. Bridell Fox (daughter of William Johnson Fox, died 1904) Presented by M.D. Conway 1898/99.

Sarah Flower Adams 1805-1848 Poet and hymn writer Gelatine bromide enlargement photo-print of a drawing by Margaret Gillies (1803-1887)

E.M. Forster 1879-1970 Novelist and essayist By Philip Whichelo Oil on paper and card The artist was Forster’s cousin Presented by Philip Whichelo to the Gay and Lesbian Humanist Association (GALHA). Further presented by GALHA’s President, Maureen Duffy, to Conway Hall.

William Johnson Fox 1786-1864 Minister at South Place 1817-1852 By John Robert Wildman (born 1785 – active 1839) Oil on canvas 1825

Charles Turner Gorham 1856-1933 By Charles Kay Robertson Oil on paperboard

Hector Hawton 1901-1975 Managing Director of the Rationalist Press Association and editor of The Humanist Photograph

Dr Bernard Hollander 1864-1934 Lecturer on medical matters By Walter Herbert Roe (1859 – ?) Oil on canvas 1903

George Jacob Holyoake 1817-1906 Freethinker and co-operator Plaster bust, English 19th century

George Jacob Holyoake 1817-1906 Freethinker and co-operator By Rowland Holyoake Oil on canvas 1902 Given by Lady Florence Dixie for his lifelong devotion to the championship of justice for women

Thomas Henry Huxley 1825-1895 Biologist From the painting by Alphonse Legros (1837-1911)

Robert G. Ingersoll 1833-1899 Noted American atheist English School Oil on canvas Late 19th century

William Morris 1834-1896 Designer, author, and visionary socialist Bronze plaque

Thomas Paine 1737-1809 Author and revolutionary By C.H. Jarvis Oil on canvas 1809 Presented by M. D. Conway on his final departure in June 1897

Ernestine L. Rose 1810-1892 Polish-American civil rights reformer Drawing 1857

Bertrand Russell 1872-1970 Philosopher, journalist, and political campaigner By A.E. Head Oil on canvas Given by the artist on ‘indefinite loan’ to the Society 29th October 1980.

Bertrand Russell 1872-1970 Philosopher, journalist, and political campaigner Bust By Marcelle Quinton 1980 Unveiled by Dora Russell, second wife to Bertrand Russell, in Red Lion Square on 29th October 1980.

John Saunders (1866 – 1919) Musician who played at the South Place Concerts for 27 years By Arthur Jermy Oil on canvas A close examination shows the subject in a different position underneath

George Bernard Shaw 1856-1950 Playwright and polemicist By Lawrence Holofcener Plaster plaque

Charles Watts 1836-1906 Secularist and journalist By Rowland Holyoake Oil on canvas 1904

Charles Albert Watts 1858-1946 Freethought editor and publisher, Vice-Chair, Rationalist Press Association By John Collier (1850-1934) Oil on canvas 1926

H.G. Wells 1866-1946 Novelist and social commentator Photograph

And The Gods Laugh By Victor Stanley Rose (1911 – 1991) 1969

Symbolic Plaque Plaster By Violet Stuttig.

The Unknown Freethinker English School Oil on canvas Early 20th century