Sir Richard Steele
(1672-1729), Dramatist and essayistLater Stuart Portraits Catalogue Entry
Sitter in 33 portraits
Sir Richard Steele was born in Dublin. After a brief period as a captain in the army, he moved to London where he became a dramatist and an essayist, noted for his contributions to The Tatler (1709-11) and The Spectator (1711-12), which he co-founded with Joseph Addison. In 1705 Steele married Margaret Stretch, a widow from Barbados whose estates included sugar plantations worked on by enslaved Africans. Just over a year later, she died and Steele inherited her fortune. At this time Steele was a prominent member of the Kit-Cat Club and he later became a Whig politician. Although a successful playwright, his most significant contribution was probably to the print industry through his introduction of mass printing and distribution techniques.
by Jonathan Richardson
oil on canvas, 1712
NPG 5067
by Jonathan Richardson
oil on canvas, 1712
NPG 160
by Unknown artist
watercolour and bodycolour on ivory, circa 1720-1723
NPG 1506a
after Sir James Thornhill
mezzotint, 18th century
NPG D42156
by and published by John Simon, after Unknown artist
mezzotint, circa 1710-1740
NPG D4299
by John Sturt, published by John Bowles, after Bernard Lens (II)
line engraving, published 1710
NPG D14964
sold by John Bowles, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
mezzotint, (1711)
NPG D42161
published by Edward Cooper, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
mezzotint, (1711 or 1712)
NPG D19021
by John Simon, sold by John Smith, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
mezzotint, 1712-1713 (1711)
NPG D42157
by John Simon, sold by John Smith, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
mezzotint, 1712-1713 (1711)
NPG D4297
by John Simon, sold by John Smith, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
mezzotint, 1712-1713 (1711)
NPG D11511
by and sold by John Smith, after Jonathan Richardson
mezzotint, 1713 (1712)
NPG D27589
by and sold by John Smith, after Jonathan Richardson
mezzotint, 1713 (1712)
NPG D42159
by and sold by John Smith, after Jonathan Richardson
mezzotint, 1713 (1712)
NPG D6841
by and sold by John Smith, after Jonathan Richardson
mezzotint, 1713 (1712)
NPG D11510
by George Vertue, after Sir James Thornhill
line engraving, 1714
NPG D27586
by George Vertue, after Sir James Thornhill
line engraving, 1714
NPG D19017
by George Vertue, after Sir James Thornhill
line engraving, 1714
NPG D18160
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