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John Bell

(1745-1831), Publisher

Sitter associated with 4 portraits
Artist associated with 108 portraits
John Bell, publisher and bookseller, was a major figure in the London printing and book trade for much of the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. Beginning in 1777, he issued the 109 volumes of The Poets of Great Britain complete from Chaucer to Churchill series. He influenced later publishing practice by introducing illustrations into his books that were not only prepared by competent artists but also related to the text. In addition, he founded a weekly newspaper, a monthly illustrated magazine, and various other periodicals.

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Unidentified theatrical scene, probably published by John Bell - NPG L269.B8.15

Unidentified theatrical scene

probably published by John Bell
etching, probably published in 'Bell's British Theatre', 1790s
On display in Room 11 on Floor 3 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG L269.B8.15

Scene from William Congreve's 'The Double Dealer', probably published by John Bell - NPG L269.B8.16

Scene from William Congreve's 'The Double Dealer'

probably published by John Bell
etching, probably published in 'Bell's British Theatre', 1790s
On display in Room 11 on Floor 3 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG L269.B8.16

Scene from George Jeffreys' 'Merope', probably published by John Bell - NPG L269.B8.17

Scene from George Jeffreys' 'Merope'

probably published by John Bell
etching, probably published in 'Bell's British Theatre', 1790s
On display in Room 11 on Floor 3 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG L269.B8.17

Scene from William Congreve's 'The Old Batchelor', probably published by John Bell - NPG L269.B8.18

Scene from William Congreve's 'The Old Batchelor'

probably published by John Bell
etching, probably published in 'Bell's British Theatre', 1790s
On display in Room 11 on Floor 3 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG L269.B8.18

Unidentified theatrical scene, probably published by John Bell - NPG L269.B8.21

Unidentified theatrical scene

probably published by John Bell
etching, probably published in 'Bell's British Theatre', 1790s
On display in Room 11 on Floor 3 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG L269.B8.21

Unidentified theatrical scene, probably published by John Bell - NPG L269.B8.23

Unidentified theatrical scene

probably published by John Bell
etching, probably published in 'Bell's British Theatre', 1790s
On display in Room 11 on Floor 3 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG L269.B8.23

Unidentified theatrical scene, probably published by John Bell - NPG L269.B8.24

Unidentified theatrical scene

probably published by John Bell
etching, probably published in 'Bell's British Theatre', 1790s
On display in Room 11 on Floor 3 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG L269.B8.24

Unidentified theatrical scene, probably published by John Bell - NPG L269.B8.29

Unidentified theatrical scene

probably published by John Bell
etching, probably published in 'Bell's British Theatre', 1790s
On display in Room 11 on Floor 3 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG L269.B8.29

William Wyatt Dimond as Philaster, by Philipp Audinet, published by  John Bell, after  Samuel De Wilde - NPG L269.B6.05

William Wyatt Dimond as Philaster

by Philipp Audinet, published by John Bell, after Samuel De Wilde
stipple, published 1791
On display in Room 11 on Floor 3 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG L269.B6.05

Mary Wells as Anne Lovely in 'A Bold Stroke for a Wife', by William Satchwell Leney (Lenney), published by  John Bell, after  Samuel De Wilde - NPG L269.B6.09

Mary Wells as Anne Lovely in 'A Bold Stroke for a Wife'

by William Satchwell Leney (Lenney), published by John Bell, after Samuel De Wilde
stipple, published 1791
On display in Room 11 on Floor 3 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG L269.B6.09

Mrs Rock as Viletta in 'She Wou'd and She Wou'd Not', by Joseph Thornthwaite, published by  John Bell, after  Samuel De Wilde - NPG L269.B6.18

Mrs Rock as Viletta in 'She Wou'd and She Wou'd Not'

by Joseph Thornthwaite, published by John Bell, after Samuel De Wilde
stipple, published 2nd October 1791
On display in Room 11 on Floor 3 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG L269.B6.18

Dorothy Jordan as Peggy in David Garrick's 'The Country Girl', by William Bromley, published by  John Bell, after  Samuel De Wilde - NPG L269.B7.03

Dorothy Jordan as Peggy in David Garrick's 'The Country Girl'

by William Bromley, published by John Bell, after Samuel De Wilde
stipple, published 15th July 1791
On display in Room 11 on Floor 3 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG L269.B7.03

Scene from William Congreve's 'Love for Love', by James Neagle, published by  John Bell, after  Robert Smirke - NPG L269.B8.31

Scene from William Congreve's 'Love for Love'

by James Neagle, published by John Bell, after Robert Smirke
etching, published 20th May 1791
On display in Room 11 on Floor 3 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG L269.B8.31

Charles Macklin, by Jean Condé, published by  John Bell, after  John Opie - NPG L269.B5.07

Charles Macklin

by Jean Condé, published by John Bell, after John Opie
stipple, 1792
On display in Room 11 on Floor 3 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG L269.B5.07

Henry Angelo as Mrs Cole in Foote's 'The Minor', by William Satchwell Leney (Lenney), published by  John Bell, after  Samuel De Wilde - NPG L269.B8.27

Henry Angelo as Mrs Cole in Foote's 'The Minor'

by William Satchwell Leney (Lenney), published by John Bell, after Samuel De Wilde
etching, published 29th September 1792
On display in Room 11 on Floor 3 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG L269.B8.27

Anne Merry (née Brunton) as Horatia in Whitehead's 'The Roman Father', by William Satchwell Leney (Lenney), published by  John Bell, after  Richard Cosway - NPG L269.B8.40

Anne Merry (née Brunton) as Horatia in Whitehead's 'The Roman Father'

by William Satchwell Leney (Lenney), published by John Bell, after Richard Cosway
etching, published 20th October 1792
On display in Room 11 on Floor 3 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG L269.B8.40

Charlotte Jane Chapman as Augusta Aubrey in Cumberland's 'The Fashionable Lover', by Joseph Thornthwaite, published by  John Bell, after  Samuel De Wilde - NPG L269.B8.32

Charlotte Jane Chapman as Augusta Aubrey in Cumberland's 'The Fashionable Lover'

by Joseph Thornthwaite, published by John Bell, after Samuel De Wilde
etching, published 19th January 1793
On display in Room 11 on Floor 3 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG L269.B8.32

James William Dodd as Campley in 'The Funeral', by Richard Godfrey, published by  John Bell, after  James Roberts - NPG L269.B6.13

James William Dodd as Campley in 'The Funeral'

by Richard Godfrey, published by John Bell, after James Roberts
engraving, published 5th December 1794
On display in Room 11 on Floor 3 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG L269.B6.13

'The Provok'd Wife' (David Garrick and two unknown women), published by John Bell - NPG L269.B8.20

'The Provok'd Wife' (David Garrick and two unknown women)

published by John Bell
etching, published in 'Bell's British Theatre' 16th October 1794
On display in Room 11 on Floor 3 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG L269.B8.20

Anna Maria Crouch as Polly in The Beggar's Opera, by Joseph Thornthwaite, published by  John Bell, after  Samuel De Wilde - NPG L269.B6.20

Anna Maria Crouch as Polly in The Beggar's Opera

by Joseph Thornthwaite, published by John Bell, after Samuel De Wilde
etching and engraving, published 2nd February 1795
On display in Room 11 on Floor 3 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG L269.B6.20

Anne Townshend (née Montgomery), Marchioness Townshend, by Marie Anne Bourlier, published by  John Bell - NPG D14160

Anne Townshend (née Montgomery), Marchioness Townshend

by Marie Anne Bourlier, published by John Bell
stipple engraving, circa 1770-1813
NPG D14160

Mary Yates; Master Pullen (as Isabella and child in David Garrick's 'Isabella'), by Joseph Thornthwaite, published by  John Bell, after  James Roberts - NPG D8464

Mary Yates; Master Pullen (as Isabella and child in David Garrick's 'Isabella')

by Joseph Thornthwaite, published by John Bell, after James Roberts
line engraving, published 1776
NPG D8464

Mary Ann Yates as Calista in Rowe's 'The Fair Penitent', by Joseph Thornthwaite, published by  John Bell, after  James Roberts - NPG D8941

Mary Ann Yates as Calista in Rowe's 'The Fair Penitent'

by Joseph Thornthwaite, published by John Bell, after James Roberts
line engraving, published 16 July 1776
NPG D8941

Mary Ann Yates as Calista in Rowe's 'The Fair Penitent', by Joseph Thornthwaite, published by  John Bell, after  James Roberts - NPG D8942

Mary Ann Yates as Calista in Rowe's 'The Fair Penitent'

by Joseph Thornthwaite, published by John Bell, after James Roberts
line engraving, published 16 July 1776
NPG D8942

Mary Ann Yates as Calista in Rowe's 'The Fair Penitent', by Joseph Thornthwaite, published by  John Bell, after  James Roberts - NPG D8943

Mary Ann Yates as Calista in Rowe's 'The Fair Penitent'

by Joseph Thornthwaite, published by John Bell, after James Roberts
hand-coloured line engraving, published 16 July 1776
NPG D8943

Mary Yates; Master Pullen (as Isabella and child in David Garrick's 'Isabella'), by Joseph Thornthwaite, published by  John Bell, after  James Roberts - NPG D8951

Mary Yates; Master Pullen (as Isabella and child in David Garrick's 'Isabella')

by Joseph Thornthwaite, published by John Bell, after James Roberts
line engraving, published 26 September 1776
NPG D8951

Ann Catley as Euphrosyne in Milton's 'Comus', by Joseph Thornthwaite, published by  John Bell, after  James Roberts - NPG D2032

Ann Catley as Euphrosyne in Milton's 'Comus'

by Joseph Thornthwaite, published by John Bell, after James Roberts
line engraving, published 1777
NPG D2032

Elizabeth Sharp (née Hopkins) when Miss Hopkins; as Irene in Brown's 'Barbarossa', by Joseph Thornthwaite, published by  John Bell, after  James Roberts - NPG D8676

Elizabeth Sharp (née Hopkins) when Miss Hopkins; as Irene in Brown's 'Barbarossa'

by Joseph Thornthwaite, published by John Bell, after James Roberts
line engraving, published 1 March 1777
NPG D8676

Elizabeth Sharp (née Hopkins) when Miss Hopkins; as Irene in Brown's 'Barbarossa', by Joseph Thornthwaite, published by  John Bell, after  James Roberts - NPG D8678

Elizabeth Sharp (née Hopkins) when Miss Hopkins; as Irene in Brown's 'Barbarossa'

by Joseph Thornthwaite, published by John Bell, after James Roberts
coloured line engraving, published 1 March 1777
NPG D8678

Elizabeth Sharp (née Hopkins) when Miss Hopkins; as Irene in Brown's 'Barbarossa', by Joseph Thornthwaite, published by  John Bell, after  James Roberts - NPG D8679

Elizabeth Sharp (née Hopkins) when Miss Hopkins; as Irene in Brown's 'Barbarossa'

by Joseph Thornthwaite, published by John Bell, after James Roberts
coloured line engraving, published 1 March 1777
NPG D8679

Mary Ann Yates in the character of Electra, by Joseph Thornthwaite, published by  John Bell, after  James Roberts - NPG D8818

Mary Ann Yates in the character of Electra

by Joseph Thornthwaite, published by John Bell, after James Roberts
line engraving, published 6 October 1777
NPG D8818

Mary Ann Yates as Electra in Thomas Francklin's 'Orestes' (after Voltaire), by Joseph Thornthwaite, published by  John Bell, after  James Roberts - NPG D8944

Mary Ann Yates as Electra in Thomas Francklin's 'Orestes' (after Voltaire)

by Joseph Thornthwaite, published by John Bell, after James Roberts
line engraving, published 6 October 1777
NPG D8944

Mary Ann Yates as Electra in Thomas Francklin's 'Orestes' (after Voltaire), by Joseph Thornthwaite, published by  John Bell, after  James Roberts - NPG D8945

Mary Ann Yates as Electra in Thomas Francklin's 'Orestes' (after Voltaire)

by Joseph Thornthwaite, published by John Bell, after James Roberts
line engraving, published 6 October 1777
NPG D8945

Mary Ann Yates as Electra in Thomas Francklin's 'Orestes' (after Voltaire), by Joseph Thornthwaite, published by  John Bell, after  James Roberts - NPG D8946

Mary Ann Yates as Electra in Thomas Francklin's 'Orestes' (after Voltaire)

by Joseph Thornthwaite, published by John Bell, after James Roberts
coloured line engraving, published 6 October 1777
NPG D8946

James Thomson, by Thomas Cook, published by  John Bell, after  John Patoun - NPG D15554

James Thomson

by Thomas Cook, published by John Bell, after John Patoun
line engraving, published 26 August 1777
NPG D15554

Prince Edward, Duke of Kent and Strathearn, by Edward Scriven, published by  John Bell, after  Henry Edridge - NPG D15686

Prince Edward, Duke of Kent and Strathearn

by Edward Scriven, published by John Bell, after Henry Edridge
stipple and line engraving, published circa 1777-1811
NPG D15686

Mary Ann Yates as Virginia in Crisp's 'Virginia', by Joseph Thornthwaite, published by  John Bell, after  James Roberts - NPG D4954

Mary Ann Yates as Virginia in Crisp's 'Virginia'

by Joseph Thornthwaite, published by John Bell, after James Roberts
coloured line engraving, published 1778
NPG D4954

Mary Ann Yates as Virginia in Crisp's 'Virginia', by Joseph Thornthwaite, published by  John Bell, after  James Roberts - NPG D8930

Mary Ann Yates as Virginia in Crisp's 'Virginia'

by Joseph Thornthwaite, published by John Bell, after James Roberts
line engraving, published January 1778
NPG D8930

Mary Ann Yates as Virginia in Crisp's 'Virginia', by Joseph Thornthwaite, published by  John Bell, after  James Roberts - NPG D8931

Mary Ann Yates as Virginia in Crisp's 'Virginia'

by Joseph Thornthwaite, published by John Bell, after James Roberts
line engraving, published January 1778
NPG D8931

Vincenzo Lunardi, by Francesco Bartolozzi, published by  John Bell, after  Richard Cosway - NPG D18705

Vincenzo Lunardi

by Francesco Bartolozzi, published by John Bell, after Richard Cosway
stipple engraving, published 5 October 1784
NPG D18705

Anne Merry (née Brunton), by Francesco Bartolozzi, published by  John Bell, after  Richard Cosway - NPG D15292

Anne Merry (née Brunton)

by Francesco Bartolozzi, published by John Bell, after Richard Cosway
stipple engraving, published 22 October 1785
NPG D15292

Mary Ann Yates as Volumnia in 'Coriolanus', by Joseph Thornthwaite, published by  John Bell, after  Edward Francisco Burney - NPG D8938

Mary Ann Yates as Volumnia in 'Coriolanus'

by Joseph Thornthwaite, published by John Bell, after Edward Francisco Burney
coloured line engraving, published 22 August 1786
NPG D8938

Ann Selina Storace as Euphrosyne in Milton's 'Comus', by Jean Condé, printed for  John Bell, after  Samuel De Wilde - NPG D7220

Ann Selina Storace as Euphrosyne in Milton's 'Comus'

by Jean Condé, printed for John Bell, after Samuel De Wilde
stipple engraving, published 16 June 1791
NPG D7220

Elizabeth Whitlock (née Kemble), by Philipp Audinet, published by  John Bell, after  Samuel De Wilde - NPG D41913

Elizabeth Whitlock (née Kemble)

by Philipp Audinet, published by John Bell, after Samuel De Wilde
hand-coloured etching, published 6 October 1792
NPG D41913

Frances Abington (née Barton), by Joseph Thornthwaite, published by  John Bell, after  Isaac Taylor - NPG D969

Frances Abington (née Barton)

by Joseph Thornthwaite, published by John Bell, after Isaac Taylor
line engraving, published 21 April 1792
NPG D969

'Mr Angelo as Mrs Cole', by William Satchwell Leney (Lenney), published by  John Bell, after  Samuel De Wilde - NPG D16172

'Mr Angelo as Mrs Cole'

by William Satchwell Leney (Lenney), published by John Bell, after Samuel De Wilde
line engraving, published 29 September 1792
NPG D16172

Charles Macklin, by Jean Condé, published by  John Bell, after  John Opie - NPG D19239

Charles Macklin

by Jean Condé, published by John Bell, after John Opie
stipple engraving, published July 1792 (circa 1792)
NPG D19239

Robert Bensley, by Philipp Audinet, published by  John Bell, after  Samuel De Wilde - NPG D15501

Robert Bensley

by Philipp Audinet, published by John Bell, after Samuel De Wilde
line engraving, published 23 February 1793
NPG D15501

Miss Wallis, by William Satchwell Leney (Lenney), published by  John Bell, after  Samuel De Wilde - NPG D15619

Miss Wallis

by William Satchwell Leney (Lenney), published by John Bell, after Samuel De Wilde
line engraving, published 14 July 1795
NPG D15619

John Philip Kemble as Richard III, by Joseph Thornthwaite, published by  John Bell, after  Gilbert Stuart - NPG D3465

John Philip Kemble as Richard III

by Joseph Thornthwaite, published by John Bell, after Gilbert Stuart
line engraving, published 10 May 1798
NPG D3465

'The prevailing Spring Fashions for 1806...the Elegant designs of Madame Lanchester', by James Mitan, after  Arthur William Devis, published by  John Bell, published in  La Belle Assemblée or Bell's Court and Fashionable Magazine - NPG D47494

'The prevailing Spring Fashions for 1806...the Elegant designs of Madame Lanchester'

by James Mitan, after Arthur William Devis, published by John Bell, published in La Belle Assemblée or Bell's Court and Fashionable Magazine
line engraving, published June 1806
NPG D47494

'Spring Fashions for 1806... Walking Dresses in Kensington Garden 1 June 1806', published by John Bell, published in  La Belle Assemblée or Bell's Court and Fashionable Magazine - NPG D47495

'Spring Fashions for 1806... Walking Dresses in Kensington Garden 1 June 1806'

published by John Bell, published in La Belle Assemblée or Bell's Court and Fashionable Magazine
line engraving, published 1 July 1806
NPG D47495

'Opera & Drawing Room full dresses, 1806', published by John Bell, published in  La Belle Assemblée or Bell's Court and Fashionable Magazine - NPG D47496

'Opera & Drawing Room full dresses, 1806'

published by John Bell, published in La Belle Assemblée or Bell's Court and Fashionable Magazine
etching and line engraving, published 1 July 1806
NPG D47496

'Parisian Summer Fashions 1806', published by John Bell, published in  La Belle Assemblée or Bell's Court and Fashionable Magazine - NPG D47497

'Parisian Summer Fashions 1806'

published by John Bell, published in La Belle Assemblée or Bell's Court and Fashionable Magazine
etching and line engraving, published August 1806
NPG D47497

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