Nearly 200 artworks are missing from the Parliamentary collection

Nearly 200 artworks are missing from Parliament’s collection including historic paintings, drawings, photographs and even a 6ft sculpture of Queen Victoria

Parliament has revealed list of missing artworks in response to an FOI request

Parliament is hunting for nearly 200 artworks that are missing from its historic collection, it can be revealed today.

Paintings, drawings, century-old photographs and even a life-size sculpture are among the pieces that cannot be located by the authorities.

The scale of the holes in the collection have been exposed following a freedom of information request by MailOnline.

Although it is not clear that any have been stolen, the fact that 199 have not been located will raise questions about why better track has not been kept of key parts of the country’s heritage.

An 1801 portrait of William Pitt the Younger, a 19th Century sketch of William Gladstone and a six-foot high sculpture of Queen Victoria are on the list.

The Anston stone likeness of the monarch was made by John Thomas in the mid-1800s.

An 1801 portrait of William Pitt the Younger by Robert Dighton is among the works that have not been located

An 19th Century sketch of William Gladstone that is listed as missing by the Parliamentary authorities

A photograph taken of Mark Twain visiting Parliament in 1906 has also gone AWOL, as well as an image of the first Labour government Cabinet in 1924.

A 1941 painting by William MacCleod of the House of Commons chamber on fire after German bombing – Burning of the Debating Chamber from Star Chamber Court – is missing.

A work titled ‘The Landing Place from the River Thames’ by William Capon – whose paintings can fetch thousands of pounds at auction – is unaccounted for.

The list includes a drawing of the ruins of St Stephen’s Chapel after another fire in 1834, by George Belton Moore.

Dozens of prints of paintings are also unlocated, such as one by Thomas Gainsborough of Admiral Lord Rodney.

The House of Parliament collection features around 10,000 pieces ranging from the medieval period to the 21st century.

The value of the works is not known as Parliament only holds estimates for items acquired after March 2000.

The authorities argue that given the ‘size and diversity’ of the historic collection obtaining a valuation ‘would be costly and would outweigh the benefits’.

Around 80 per cent is meant to be on display around Westminster – but thousands of items are in storage or loaned out.

The authorities have been struggling to modernise record-keeping systems and locate missing works for years.

The whereabouts of an image of the first Labour government Cabinet in 1924 is not known

A photograph taken of Mark Twain visiting Parliament in 1906 has also gone AWOL

A House of Commons spokesman stressed that a review of the collection is currently under way.

‘Parliament is continuing to address collection objects historically identified as missing or not located through ongoing audits and regular reviews across the estate,’ they said.

‘The number of objects catalogued as missing or not located is only true at the time of request and may differ over time.

‘Parliament has an ongoing programme to address the matter, through comprehensive and regular audits, recently resulting in a 5 per cent reduction in objects identified as missing since 2021.’

An 1804 sketch of the Old Exchequer Buildings by Robert Blemmell Schnebbelie has not been located by the Parliamentary authorities

A 1941 painting by William MacCleod of the House of Commons chamber on fire after German bombing – Burning of the Debating Chamber from Star Chamber Court – is missing

The roll call of missing pieces includes a drawing of the ruins of St Stephen’s Chapel after another fire in 1834, by George Belton Moore

Dozens of prints of paintings are also unlocated, such as one by Thomas Gainsborough of Admiral Lord Rodney (pictured)

The House of Parliament collection features around 10,000 pieces ranging from the medieval period to the 21st century

Parliament’s list of missing artworks

Schnebbelie, Robert Blemmell – The Old Exchequer Buildings c.1805 (Drawing)

Smirke, Robert – Elevation proposed for His Majesty’s Entrance into the Houses of Parliament. The Tower and windows seen behind the Porch etc. are those of the present buildings (Wyatt’s) next Abingdon Street Drawing

Macdonald, Mr William Alister – View of Westminster Bridge and the Palace of Westminster from south bank (Drawing)

Dighton, Robert – Pitt (the Younger) (Drawing)

George Belton Moore – ST. STEPHEN’S CHAPEL RUINS, AFTER THE FIRE, 1834. (Drawing)

Giles, Carl Ronald – I think your ` Yah boo’ was frightfully good constructive criticism (Drawing)

Wirgman, Theodore Blake – John Bright MP (Drawing)

Wirgman, Theodore Blake – William Ewart Gladstone Prime Minister (Drawing)

Capon, Mr William – The Landing Place from the River Thames at the North East Court Yard of the New Palace (Drawing)

Furniss, Harry Cobden – Free Trade (Drawing)

Ferrier, George Straton – The Bass Rock, Canty Bay (Drawing)

Unknown – A Magnifico or the similitude of an astonishingly great Statesman Baron Wallace (Drawing)

Cousins, P. J. – Palace of Westminster from Parliament Square (Drawing)

Cordero, Philip – Bodiam Castle (Painting)

MacLeod, William John – Houses of Parliament burning of the Debating Chamber from Star Chamber Court (Painting)

Stone, John Benjamin – Hugh Farmer, 1st Clerk to the Services Committee (Photograph)

Wykeham Studios Ltd – S St G S Kingdom (Photograph)

House, David – Black Rod and His Staff (Photograph)

Unknown – State Opening of Parliament c 1970 (Photograph)

Unknown – State Opening of Parliament 1981 (Photograph)

Unknown – CLERKS OF COMMONWEALTH INSPECTING THE ORIGINAL BILL OF RIGHTS OF 1689 IN THE HOUSE OF LORDS RECORD OFFICE SEARCH ROOM (Photograph)

Unknown – 18th CENTURY ACTS STORED IN THE VICTORIA TOWER (Photograph)

Unknown – THE QUEEN’S SPEECH AT THE STATE OPENING, 1979 (Photograph)

Unknown – View of the window in Chatres Cathedral showing Simon de Montfort, displayed at the 700th Anniversary of his Parliament held at House of Lords, January 1965\n (Photograph)

Unknown – Palace of Westminster (Photograph)

Stone, John Benjamin – THE TERRACE HOUSE OF COMMONS 1909 (Photograph)

Lavery, Sir John – The First Labour Cabinet 1924 (Photograph)

Unknown – Temporary House of Lords in 1941-45 Queen’s Robing Room (Photograph)

Stone, John Benjamin – Mark Twain’ at the House of Commons July 2nd 1907 (Photograph)

Stone, John Benjamin – The House of Commons from the Speaker’s Chair (Photograph)

Knight, Sophie – Staircase, Westminster Hall (Photograph)

Knight, Sophie – Chandeliers, St. Stephen’s Hall (Photograph)

Unknown – Charles L. Lockton Collector of Fees 1898-1921 (Photograph)

Knight, Sophie – Chandeliers, St. Stephen’s Hall (Photograph)

Unknown view of House of Commons chamber pre 1941 Photograph

Hollar, Wenceslaus – Sala Regalis cum Curia West-monastery, vulgo Westminster Hall (Print)

Harris, John – Westminster Palace Competition 1835 North Front without the Tower Westminster Hall (Print)

Lawrence, Sir Thomas – William Wilberforce (Print)

Unknown – Paul Jodrell of Duffield in the County of Derby Esq.r Clerk of the Honourble House of Commons (Print)

Hayes, Colin – South Bank (Print)

Boydell, Mr John – Vue de l’Hotel Royal des Gardes du Corps a pied vis a vis la Salle Blanche a manger a Londrea (Print)

Coide – Statesmen No. 95 (Print)

Lawrence, Alfred Kingsley – Queen Elizabeth Commissions Raleigh to Sail for America, 1584 (Print)

Spy – Repton, Oxford and Somerset (Print)

Canaletto, Antonio – The South East Prospect of Westminster Bridge (Print)

Fairburn, John – The False Prophets or Seven Wise Men of the East, prophesying before Gog and Magog of a Row in the City, November 29th 1820 (Print)

The Lobby of the House of Commons, 1886 (Print)

Cole, Mr Benjamin – A Perspective View of the Parish Church of St. John the Evangelist in Westminster (Print)

View of Westminster (Print)

View of Westminster Print

Canaletto, Antonio – South-west View of the old Horse Guards (Print)

Pearson, William – St. Margaret’s Westminster (Print)

Hopper, Thomas – Old Palace Yard (Print)

Terasson, H – His Majesty’s Royal Banqueting House of Whitehal London.1713. (Print)

Wale, Samuel – The Entrance of the House of Lords, with the late Office of Ordnance, adjoining (Print)

Wale, Samuel – View of the Royal Stables, and part of the Church of St. Martin-in-the-Fields. (Print)

Wale, Samuel – View of the House of Commons from the River Thames. (Print)

Bawden, Edward – Albert Bridge (Print)

Gully, William Court – Mr Speaker (Print)

Fairburn, John – Correct View of the New Houses of Parliament (Print)

Gravelot, Hubert-François – The First Day of Term (Print)

Spy – Law, Andrew Bonar – A gentle shepherd who would lead his flock into the protectionist fold… (Print)

Toms, William Henry – A Perspective View of the Collegiate Church of St. Peter Westminster with the Towers & Spire as Design’d by Sr. Christopher Wren (Print)

Shepherd, Thomas Hosmer – The King’s Entrance to the House of Lords From Poets Corner (Print)

Shepherd, Thomas Hosmer – The Admiralty, Parliament Street (Print)

Melville, Henry – THE HOUSE OF COMMONS 1832 (Print)

Pickering, F DESTRUCTION OF THE HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT 1834 (Print)

Laurie & Whittle – A VIEW OF THE HOUSE OF LORDS: Old Palace Yard 1808 (Print)

Bowles, John – Westminster Abbey 1735 (Print)

Higham, Thomas – PROPOSED NEW HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT FROM THE DESIGN OF CHARLES BARRY ESQUIRE (Print)

Unknown – View of Westminster Hall and Bridge (Print)

Pope, Alexander – THE RT. HONORABLE HENRY GRATTAN 1746-1820 Irish Leader (Print)

Canaletto, Antonio – The Thames on Lord Mayor’s Day (Print)

Unknown – INTERIOR of the HOUSE of LORDS DURING the TRIAL of HER MAJESTY QUEEN CAROLINE (Print)

Pugh, Mr Edward – The Houses of Parliament with the Royal Procession 1804 (Print)

Testolini, Gaetano -WESTMINSTER HALL (Print)

Grimm, Samuel Hieronymus – THE DISTRIBUTION OF HIS MAJESTY’S MAUNDY, BY THE SUB-ALMONER in the Chapel Royal at WHITEHALL (Print)

Spy – Specific Performance ( Rt. Hon Sir Edward Fry ) (Print)

Spy – Admiralty Jurisdiction ( Hon. Sir John Gorell Barnes ) (Print)

Prior, Mr Thomas Abiel – WESTMINSTER from Bishop’s Walk, Lambeth 1850 (Print)

Daniel O’Connell – 1775-1847 (Print)

Montbard, George – He Found Livingstone ( H. M. Stanley ) (Print)

Spy – Bells (Edmund Beckett Denison 1816-1905, Lord Grimthorpe ) (Print)

Baynes, Thomas Mann – The Destruction of both Houses of Parliament by Fire, Oct: 16 1834 (Print)

Hudson, Thomas – Admiral Thomas Griffin M.P. for Arundel 1754-1761 (Print)

Gainsborough, Mr Thomas – Admiral Lord Rodney, K.B. 1719-92 M.P. for Northampton (Print)

Pugh, Mr Edward – The King on his Throne in the House of Lords 1804 (Print)

Deason, James – The South Front of Westminster Hall & the West Side of the House of Lords as they appeared in November 1834 after the Fire. Print

Sandby, Thomas – North East View of the House of Commons from a Drawing by Thomas Sandby Print

Smith, Mr John Thomas – East view of Westminster from the water Print

Fellows, William – Westminster 1807 View from Tothill-Fields Print

Unknown – Buckingham Palace about 1890 Print

Shepherd, Thomas Hosmer Redaway – The Treasury Buildings Whitehall about 1890 Print

Shepherd, Thomas Hosmer – Trafalgar Square in about 1890 Print

Jones Grieffeld – Victoria Tower Royal Entrance to New Houses of Parliament about 1890 Print

Shepherd, Thomas Hosmer Clark – The Banqueting House Whitehall Print

“Shepherd, Thomas Hosmer – Carlton House Terrace & Duke of York’s Column Print

Brown Le Pettit – The Admiralty, Whitehall Print

Le Pettit – The Horse Guards View of front facing St James’s Park Print

ATN – The First of the Commoners of England ( Speaker Denison Vanity Fair 1870] Print

Coide – Mr. Speaker ( Henry Brand M.P. Vanity Fair 1872 ) Print

Pellegrini, Carlo – I Felt Very Uncomfortable Vanity Fair 1869 Print

Bawden, Edward – Albert Bridge Print

Frishman, Margaret – Carnations Print

King, Cecil – Dubai Blue Print

Fedden, Mary – Glass Jar Print

Demarco, Richard – St James’s Palace Print

Demarco, Richard – Canning Place, Kensington Print

Prattent, Thomas – The Painted Chamber Westminster Print

Neale, John Preston – Interior of the House of Commons 1815 Print

Neale, John Preston – The Speaker’s House Westminster River Front 1815 Print

Carter, John – South West view of St. Stephens Chapel Westminster restored 1800 Print

Levens, T – The Speaker’s House, From Westr. Bridge built in 1807 Print

Spy – The Colonies’ Duke of Manchester Vanity Fair 1878 Print

Spy – Port’ Earl of Portarlington Vanity Fair 1878 Print

Pellegrini, Carlo – Property and Principle Earl Fitzwilliam Vanity Fair 1878 Print

Spy – The Vice-Empress Lord Lytton Vanity Fair 1876 Print

Spy – A Scots Lawyer’ Baron Shand Vanity Fair 1903 Print

Spy – Education & Defense Duke of Devonshire Vanity Fair 1902 Print

Pellegrini, Carlo – Military Advice’ The Rt. Hon. Lord Sandhurst Vanity Fair 1874 Print

Pellegrini, Carlo – An Eminent Christian Man’ Lord Westbury Vanity Fair 1869 Print

Pellegrini, Carlo – La Reyne le Veult’ Sir John George Shaw-Lefevre Vanity Fair 1871 Print

Spy – ‘A Lord of Appeal’ Rt. Hon. Lord Blackburn Vanity Fair, 1881 Print

Bossche, Philipp Van Den – A Panorama of Prague about 1608 Print

Cecioni, Adriano – The Novelist Who Invented Sensation ( Wilkie Collins Vanity Fair 1872 ) Print

Bryant, J – Buildings on the South side of New Palace Yard 1805 Print

Unknown – The Statue of KING CHARLES the 1st at Charing Cross, London Print

Shepherd, Thomas Hosmer – The Guildhall, Westminster Print

Wale, Samuel – Print

Unknown – Westminster Palace Plan First floor 1938 Print

Spy – Whitehaven Augustus Helder MP Vanity Fair 1896 Print

Cecioni, Adriano – Answers questions Viscount Enfield M.P. Vanity Fair 1872 Print

Coide – Currency James Delahunty M.P. Vanity Fair 1872 Print

Pellegrini, Carlo – He speaks with one party and acts with the other Lord Stanley, Vanity Fair 1869 Print

Spy – South Kensington Lord Warkworth M.P. Vanity Fair 1897 Print

Spy – Freddy Sir Frederick J. W. Johnstone M.P. Vanity Fair 1878 Print

Pellegrini, Carlo – A nice little fellow Hon. Gerard J. Noel M.P. Vanity Fair 1871 Print

ATN – He was considered an able man till he assumed his own name W. G. G. VVernon-Harcourt M.P. Vanity Fair 1870 Print

Spy – Oxford University John G.Talbot M.P. Vanity Fair 1897 Print

Vacher & Son – Government Offices from St James’s Park 1864 Print

Unknown – Old Star Chamber Westminster Pulled down after the late Fire of the Parliament Houses Print

Mackenzie, F – The Chapter House Print

Levens, T – The Speaker’s House from West.r Bridge Print

Carter, John – south west view of St. Stephen’s Chapel Print

Spy – Little Bo-Peep Earl of Rosebery Vanity Fair 1901 Print

Coide – He Was Once offered…the Conservative Party Duke of Rutland Vanity Fair 1871 Print

Spy – He is a Conservative Candidate for Portsmouth Alfred Harmsworth Vanity Fair 1895 Print

Spy – The Heritage of Woe Arnold Forster M.P. Vanity Fair Supplement Print

Spy – A Successful First Speech: Moab is my Washpot F. E. Smith M.P. Vanity Fair 1907 Print

Coide – This Fell Sergeant – Strict in his Arrest Lt. Col. Lord Charles Russell Vanity Fair 1873 Print

Fulton, Robert – Warren Hastings Esq.r 1732-1818 Print

Middleton, Charles – Westminster Hall about 1815 Print

Unknown – View across Old Palace Yard about 1860 Print

Unknown – Members’ Entrance about 1860 Print

Unknown – Waterstone Dorset Print

Unknown – Burleigh, Northamptonshire Print

St Stephen’s Review – A DREAM OF THE PILLORY: Or, the Right Man in the Right Place St. Stephen’s Review 1887 Print

Daniell, William – Peel Castle, Lancashire Print

Unknown – Votes for Women Print

The Pankhurst Trust – The Cat and Mouse Act Passed by the Liberal Government Print

Unknown – Votes for Women Hyde Park Print

Hayter, Sir George – Trial of Queen Caroline at the Court of Requests in the House of Lords Print

Bluck, John – Pugin, Mr Augustus Charles

Rowlandson, Thomas – Westminster Hall Print

Illustrated London News – THE EASTERN QUESTION: A CABINET COUNCIL IN DOWNING-STREET Print

Paget, Henry Marriott – THE MEETING OF PARLIAMENT: VISCOUNT FOLKSTONE MOVING THE ADDRESS IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS 1897 Print

The Graphic – THE HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT ILLUSTRATED 1880 Print

Illustrated London News – Gladstone: Sunday Morning at Hawarden Illustrated London News 1880 Print

Vacher & Son – New Palace Yard Print

Mendoza, June – House of Commons 1986 Print

Walker, Edmund – The Treasury Whitehall Print

Spy – The Gateshead Giant William Allen M.P. Vanity Fair 1893 Print

Illustrated London News – The Dynamite Outrages: Division Lobby of the House of Commons Illustrated London News 1885 Print

The Graphic – The men to whose hands have been entrusted the Country’s future – The Graphic 1922 Print

Unknown – Sir Edward Chandos Leigh 1832-1915 Counsel to the Speaker Print

Richards, Ceri – Trafalgar Square 1957 Print

Trevelyan, Julian Otto – Piccadilly Circus Print

Picken, A – Palace of Westminster on Fire 1834 from Serls Boat Yard Lambeth Print

Delfico, Melchiorre – A Man of Weight’ Robert W. Crawford M.P. Vanity Fair 1873 Print

Dubourg, Matthew Old Palace Yard 1820 Queen Caroline returning after trial Print

Gravelot, Hubert-François – First Day of Term Westminster Hall 1738 Print

Maurer, J. – view of Whitehall about 1754 Print

Pugh, Mr Edward – State Opening of Parliament George III Old Palace Yard 1804 Print

Patronage Vanity Fair Sept. 1904 Print

The Major from Clare Vanity Fair Oct. 1904 Print

The Wimbledon Division Vanity Fair June 1898 Print

How the Aspirants to Parliamentary Honours Wooed the Voting Millions The Graphic 1922 Print

Unknown – Lloyd George 1863-1945 and Sir Joseph Maclay 1857-1951 The Graphic 1922 Print

Unknown – The Houses of Parliament, Westminster Print

Unknown – Charles Stuart Parnell Print

Spy – Southwark Print

Unknown – Lord Randolph Spencer Churchill Print

Unknown – William Ewart Gladstone Print

“Spy – Illustrated London News” Power and Place Print

Gillray, James – The Reconciliation Print

Barker, Jo – Textile design for Millbank House tapestry commission Print

Smith, Mr John Thomas – old House of Lords exterior view 1807 Print

Wale, Samuel – Entrance to the House of Lords with the Office of Ordnance, House of Commons Print

Shepherd, Thomas Hosmer – The Parliament House, From Old Palace Yard. Westminster Print

Unknown – A Perspective View of Westminster Hall, with both Houses of Parliament Assembled… Print

Thomas, John – Queen Victoria 1819-1901 Reigned 1837-1901 Sculpture

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