John Gay (1685-1732), Poet and dramatist
Sitter associated with 11 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.
Unknown man, formerly known as John Gay
attributed to Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
oil on canvas, before 1723?
NPG 622
by William Hogarth
etching and engraving, circa 1721
NPG D21368
by George Bickham the Elder, after William Aikman
coloured line engraving, published 1729
NPG D9490
by George Bickham the Elder, after William Aikman
line engraving, published 1729
NPG D2752
after William Aikman
line engraving, mid 18th century
NPG D8205
by William Smith, published by John Thane, after Christian Friedrich Zincke
mezzotint, published 1 December 1775
NPG D2426
John Gay ('Mr Gay, author of the Beggar's Opera')
after William Aikman
mezzotint, late 18th-early 19th century
NPG D34393
by George Perfect Harding, after William Aikman
watercolour, circa 1825-1850
NPG D19631
by Francis Kyte, published by John Heney, after William Aikman
mezzotint, 1728
NPG D19056
by William Smith, published by John Thane, after Christian Friedrich Zincke
mezzotint, published 1 December 1775
NPG D19470
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