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.
by William Doughty, after Sir Joshua Reynolds
mezzotint, published 1779 (1772-1778)
NPG D19511
by James Heath, published by Harrison & Co, after John Opie
line engraving, published 14 March 1786
NPG D19057
by James Sayers, published by Thomas Cornell
etching, published 7 April 1788
NPG D15034
by William Holl Sr, published by Longman & Co, after Sir Joshua Reynolds
stipple engraving, published 1814
NPG D19318
by William Camden Edwards, published by W. Walker, after George Clint, after Sir Joshua Reynolds
line engraving, published 1 May 1823
NPG D14528
after Sir Joshua Reynolds
stipple engraving, circa 1824 (1762?-1769)
NPG D18941
by Jacques G. Sturm, after Sir Joshua Reynolds
line engraving, circa 1825-1844
NPG D13848
Samuel Johnson ('Dr Johnson awaiting an audience of Lord Chesterfield')
by Lumb Stocks, published by Art Union of London, after Edward Matthew Ward
engraving, published 1876
NPG D36541
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
Places
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar
Staffordshire
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