Samuel Johnson

Samuel Johnson

by Sir Joshua Reynolds
oil on canvas, 1756-1757
50 1/4 in. x 40 in. (1276 mm x 1016 mm)
Given by an anonymous donor, 1911
Primary Collection
NPG 1597

Sitter

Samuel Johnson (1709-1784), Poet, critic and lexicographer. Sitter associated with 39 portraits.

Artist

Sir Joshua Reynolds (1723-1792), Painter and first President of the Royal Academy. Artist associated with 1079 portraits, Sitter associated with 28 portraits.

This Portrait

Massively ungainly and plagued with nervous tics, Dr Johnson was a victim of melancholia and could not bear solitude. He had an immense circle of friends and was one of the greatest conversationalists of all time. This portrait of him as a man of letters was painted by his friend Reynolds shortly after the publication of his Dictionary of the English Language of 1755, a prodigious labour which remains a monument to his scholarship as well as to his forthright personality. It was about this time that Johnson wrote his famous letter to Lord Chesterfield rebuking his former patron for his neglect. Information about the conservation of this work is available on the Gallery's website at www.npg.org.uk/drjohnson

Related Works

NPG D34873: Samuel Johnson (source portrait)

Linked Publications

Sound Guide
Ingamells, John, Mid-Georgian Portraits 1760-1790, p. 288
Saywell, David; Simon, Jacob, Complete Illustrated Catalogue, 2004, p. 340
Woof, Robert; Hebron, Stephen, Romantic Icons, 1999, p. 9

Subjects & Themes

Books and libraries
Chairs
Writing