Samuel Johnson (1709-1784), Poet, critic and lexicographer
Sitter associated with 50 portraits
Famed as the author of the prodigious Dictionary of the English Language (1755), he gained further prestige through the publication of his new edition of Shakespeare (1765) and his travel memoir A Journey to the Western Isles of Scotland (1775). Massive, ungainly, plagued with nervous tics, Johnson was the victim of melancholia and could not bear solitude. He had an immense circle of friends, and was one of the greatest conversationalists of all time. Reynolds founded the Literary Club in 1764 to 'give him unlimited opportunities for talking'. James Boswell's Life, along with other biographies documented Johnson's behaviour and mannerisms in such detail that they have informed the posthumous diagnosis of Tourette syndrome.
after Thomas Trotter
line engraving, published 1786
NPG D20327
by John Hall, after Sir Joshua Reynolds
line engraving, published 1787 (circa 1786)
NPG D11044
by James Sayers, published by Thomas Cornell
etching, published 7 April 1788
NPG D9898
by James Heath, published by Charles Dilly, after Sir Joshua Reynolds
stipple engraving, published 10 April 1791 (1756-1757)
NPG D34873
by and published by Charles Townley, after John Opie
mezzotint, published 20 February 1792 (1783-1784)
NPG D36531
by William Doughty, published by John Jones, after Sir Joshua Reynolds
mezzotint, published 24 June 1793 (1772-1778)
NPG D36533
by Unknown artist
wax impression of intaglio, (19th century)
NPG D7040
Thou art a Retailer of Phrases; And dost deal in Remnants of Remnants, Like a maker of Pincushions.
by Unknown artist
stipple engraving, published 1803
NPG D34872
by James Neagle, after Sir Joshua Reynolds
line engraving, published 1806
NPG D8977
by James Heath, published by Longman & Co, after Sir Joshua Reynolds
line engraving, published 1 August 1806 (1772-1778)
NPG D14095
by James Neagle, after Sir Joshua Reynolds
line engraving, published 1810
NPG D8978
by Ignace Joseph de Claussen, after Sir Joshua Reynolds
etching, early 19th century
NPG D16487
by William Thomas Fry, published by and after Abraham Wivell, after Joseph Nollekens
stipple engraving, published 26 June 1815 (1777)
NPG D36539
by Mary Dawson Turner (née Palgrave), after Ozias Humphry, after Sir Joshua Reynolds
etching, circa 1825 (1769)
NPG D3158
by Samuel William Reynolds, published by Hodgson, Boys & Graves, after Sir Joshua Reynolds
mezzotint, published 1835 (1772-1778)
NPG D36535
'A literary party at Sir Joshua Reynolds's'
by D. George Thompson, published by Owen Bailey, after James William Edmund Doyle
stipple and line engraving, published 1 October 1851
NPG D14518
by George Zobel, published by Paul and Dominic Colnaghi & Co, published by Robert Roe, possibly after Sir Joshua Reynolds
mezzotint, published 2 January 1854
NPG D36538
John Bacon the Elder; Samuel Johnson (on reverse)
by Joseph Shepherd Wyon, and after John Bacon the Elder
bronze medal, 1864
NPG D2907
Unknown man, formerly known as Samuel Johnson
published by C. Eskell van Noorden
photograph, before 1900
NPG D36537
Dr Johnson's House, London
Samuel Johnson Birthplace Museum, Lichfield, Staffordshire
The Museum of the Order of St John, London
Category
Art
Literature, Journalism and Publishing
Groups
Bluestocking circle
Johnson Literary Club
Poets
Writers and critics
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Comhairle nan Eilean Siar
Staffordshire
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