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John Gay

(1685-1732), Poet and dramatist

Sitter associated with 12 portraits
John Gay was a poet and dramatist, best remembered for his hugely successful dramatic satire The Beggar's Opera (1727). Along with his friend Alexander Pope (1688-1744), Gay was a member of the Scriblerus Club, a group of like-minded men who exposed and attacked ignorance and pretentiousness in literature. Johnson did not rate Gay's poetry highly but credited him with the invention of the ballad opera. >

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Unknown man, formerly known as John Gay, attributed to Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt - NPG 622

Unknown man, formerly known as John Gay

attributed to Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
oil on canvas, before 1723?
NPG 622

'The South Sea Scheme', by William Hogarth - NPG D21368

'The South Sea Scheme'

by William Hogarth
etching and engraving, circa 1721
NPG D21368

John Gay, by Willis, after  Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt - NPG D14126

John Gay

by Willis, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
etching, (before 1723?)
NPG D14126

John Gay, by Francis Kyte, published by  John Heney, after  William Aikman - NPG D19056

John Gay

by Francis Kyte, published by John Heney, after William Aikman
mezzotint, 1728
NPG D19056

John Gay, by George Bickham the Elder, after  William Aikman - NPG D9490

John Gay

by George Bickham the Elder, after William Aikman
coloured line engraving, published 1729
NPG D9490

John Gay, by George Bickham the Elder, after  William Aikman - NPG D2752

John Gay

by George Bickham the Elder, after William Aikman
line engraving, published 1729
NPG D2752

John Gay, after William Aikman - NPG D8205

John Gay

after William Aikman
line engraving, mid 18th century
NPG D8205

John Gay, by William Smith, published by  John Thane, after  Christian Friedrich Zincke - NPG D2426

John Gay

by William Smith, published by John Thane, after Christian Friedrich Zincke
mezzotint, published 1 December 1775
NPG D2426

John Gay, by George Perfect Harding, after  William Aikman - NPG D19631

John Gay

by George Perfect Harding, after William Aikman
watercolour, circa 1825-1850
NPG D19631

John Gay, issued by Sarony & Co, after  Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt - NPG D48935

John Gay

issued by Sarony & Co, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
gravure cigarette card, 1925 (before 1723)
NPG D48935

Web image not currently available

John Gay

by William Smith, published by John Thane, after Christian Friedrich Zincke
mezzotint, published 1 December 1775
NPG D19470

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