Samuel Johnson
(1709-1784), Poet, critic and lexicographerMid-Georgian Portraits Catalogue Entry
Sitter associated with 51 portraits
The author of the prodigious Dictionary of the English Language (1755), Johnson gained further prestige through the publication of his new edition of Shakespeare (1765) and travel memoir A Journey to the Western Isles of Scotland (1775). Ungainly and plagued with nervous tics, he was the victim of melancholia and could not bear solitude. Johnson had an immense circle of friends, and was one of the greatest conversationalists of all time. Reynolds founded the Literary Club with him in 1764 to 'give him unlimited opportunities for talking'. James Boswell's Life, along with other biographies documented his behaviour and mannerisms in such detail that they have informed the posthumous diagnosis of Tourette syndrome.
by James Heath, published by Harrison & Co, after John Opie
line engraving, published 14 March 1786
NPG D19057
after Thomas Trotter
line engraving, published 1786
NPG D20327
by John Hall, after Sir Joshua Reynolds
line engraving, published 1787 (circa 1786)
NPG D11044
'Frontispiece for the 2nd edition of Dr Johnson's letters'
by James Sayers, published by Thomas Cornell
etching, published 7 April 1788
NPG D9898
'Frontispiece for the 2nd edition of Dr Johnson's letters'
by James Sayers, published by Thomas Cornell
etching, published 7 April 1788
NPG D15034
by James Heath, published by Charles Dilly, after Sir Joshua Reynolds
stipple engraving, published 10 April 1791 (1756-1757)
NPG D34873
by and published by Charles Townley, after John Opie
mezzotint, published 20 February 1792 (1783-1784)
NPG D36531
by William Doughty, published by John Jones, after Sir Joshua Reynolds
mezzotint, published 24 June 1793 (1772-1778)
NPG D36533
by Unknown artist
wax impression of intaglio, (19th century)
NPG D7040
by Unknown artist
stipple engraving, published 1803
NPG D34872
by James Neagle, after Sir Joshua Reynolds
line engraving, published 1806
NPG D8977
by James Heath, published by Longman & Co, after Sir Joshua Reynolds
line engraving, published 1 August 1806 (1772-1778)
NPG D14095
by James Neagle, after Sir Joshua Reynolds
line engraving, published 1810
NPG D8978
by Ignace Joseph de Claussen, after Sir Joshua Reynolds
etching, early 19th century
NPG D16487
by William Thomas Fry, published by and after Abraham Wivell, after Joseph Nollekens
stipple engraving, published 26 June 1815 (1777)
NPG D36539
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
by Samuel William Reynolds, published by Hodgson, Boys & Graves, after Sir Joshua Reynolds
mezzotint, published 1835 (1772-1778)
NPG D36535
'A literary party at Sir Joshua Reynolds's'
by D. George Thompson, published by Owen Bailey, after James William Edmund Doyle
stipple and line engraving, published 1 October 1851
NPG D14518
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