When people think of Florence Nightingale, they often picture a woman carrying a lamp through the hospital wards during the Crimean War. This iconic image has appeared in countless books, exhibitions and museums around the world.

But have you ever wondered how many works of art actually feature Florence Nightingale?

The answer may surprise you.

No One Knows the Exact Number

Unlike the works of famous painters or monarchs, there is no complete catalogue of artworks depicting Florence Nightingale.

Many paintings remain in private collections, while others are held in museums, libraries and archives across the United Kingdom. Victorian newspapers also published hundreds of engraved illustrations that were never formally catalogued.

Although historians cannot give an exact number, it is clear that Florence inspired hundreds of artistic works, including:

• Oil paintings
• Portraits
• Watercolours
• Pencil sketches
• Engravings
• Lithographs
• Stained glass windows
• Sculptures
• Memorial mosaics and panels

More than 170 years after the Crimean War, artists continue to portray her remarkable life.

How Many Portraits Exist?

Researchers estimate that around 15-20 portraits of Florence Nightingale were created during her lifetime.

These range from formal commissioned portraits to intimate family sketches, offering a fascinating glimpse into different stages of her life.
In addition, historians identify approximately 20-30 major paintings depicting Florence Nightingale and scenes from the Crimean War.
Following the war, her image became so popular that hundreds of engravings and lithographs were reproduced in newspapers and magazines throughout Britain, making her one of the most recognisable women of the Victorian era.

The Artists Who Painted Florence Nightingale

Several respected Victorian artists helped shape the public image of Florence Nightingale.

Among the best known are:

• Augustus Egg
• Jerry Barrett
• Henry Barraud
• Alfred Edward Chalon
• William White
• Elizabeth Rigby (Lady Eastlake)

Each artist captured a different chapter of her life — from elegant portraits before the Crimean War to powerful scenes showing Florence caring for wounded soldiers.

Perhaps the most famous painting is The Mission of Mercy: Florence Nightingale Receiving the Wounded at Scutari by Jerry Barrett (1858), which cemented her reputation as "The Lady with the Lamp."

Florence's Sister: An Artist in Her Own Right

One of the most fascinating chapters in Florence Nightingale's artistic legacy comes from within her own family.

Her older sister, Frances Parthenope Nightingale (later Lady Verney), was a talented amateur artist who produced numerous sketches and watercolours throughout her life.

Unlike formal portraits commissioned by professional painters, Parthenope's drawings offer intimate moments rarely seen elsewhere. She sketched Florence reading, playing the piano, spending time at Lea Hurst, and even created drawings inspired by Florence's experiences during the Crimean War.

Today, these family artworks provide an invaluable record of Florence's private life and offer a more personal perspective than many official portraits.

Where Can You See Florence Nightingale's Artworks?

Many of the most important paintings and portraits can still be viewed today in public collections.

Among the best places to explore them are:

• The National Portrait Gallery, London
• The Florence Nightingale Museum, London
• The Wellcome Collection
• The British Library
• Various regional museums and archives across the UK

Many works have also been digitised, allowing visitors around the world to discover Florence's artistic legacy online.

Discover Florence's Story at Lea Hurst

While paintings and portraits help preserve Florence Nightingale's image, there is nothing quite like visiting the place where her story began.

At Florence Nightingale Suites, located within historic Lea Hurst in Derbyshire, guests can experience the home where Florence spent much of her childhood and where many of her earliest inspirations took shape.

The house also preserves a small collection of artworks created by Florence's sister, Parthenope, offering visitors a rare opportunity to see the family through the eyes of someone who knew them best.

For anyone interested in history, art or the remarkable life of Florence Nightingale, a stay at Lea Hurst is far more than accommodation — it's a chance to step into the world that shaped one of Britain's most extraordinary women.