Having your portrait painted by John Lucas puts you in a special group alongside earls, dukes, admirals. princes and princesses. George and Robert Stephenson were both captured on canvas by Lucas, and so was John Ellis.

A Quaker businessman, John Ellis held many important posts in early railway companies, from Director of the Midland Counties Railway to Chairman of the Midland Railway.

His time was not confined to just tracks and trains though. as Ellis was also involved in farming, coal merchandising. fabric spinning, banking and even politics.

Object description
Type: Easel painting
Location: National Railway Museum, York
Material: Oil on canvas
Artist: John Lucas (1807–1874)
Date: 1858

Image Details
Date: 17 September 2026
Camera body: iPhone Xs
Lens: Telephoto Camera 52mm ƒ/2.4
Focal Length: 52mm
Aperture: ƒ/2.4
Shutter Speed: 1/41s
ISO: 500
Licensing: Image of a Science Museum Group Collection asset. This image cannot be licensed.