Richard Wilson
2 of 8 portraits of Richard Wilson
- Overview
- Extended Catalogue Entry
© National Portrait Gallery, London
Richard Wilson
by Edward Penny, after Anton Raphael Mengs
oil on canvas, 1752-1779, based on a work of 1752
29 1/2 in. x 24 1/2 in. (749 mm x 622 mm)
Given by Richard Ford, 1917
Primary Collection
NPG 1803
Sitterback to top
- Richard Wilson (1714-1782), Landscape painter. Sitter associated with 8 portraits, Artist or producer associated with 6 portraits.
Artistsback to top
- Anton Raphael Mengs (1728-1779), Artist. Artist or producer associated with 10 portraits.
- Edward Penny (1714-1791), Portrait and history painter. Artist or producer associated with 5 portraits, Sitter in 3 portraits.
Linked publicationsback to top
- Ingamells, John, National Portrait Gallery: Mid-Georgian Portraits 1760-1790, 2004, p. 490
- Saywell, David; Simon, Jacob, Complete Illustrated Catalogue, 2004, p. 668
Events of 1752back to top
Current affairs
Calendar Act (also known as Chesterfield's Act after Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield) comes into force, abolishing the old Julian calendar and adopting the more accurate Gregorian calendar. The year now begins on 1st January rather than 25th March.Parliament passes a bill to bestow estates forfeited by Jacobites to the Crown and use the revenue to develop the Scottish Highlands.
Art and science
Artist William Hogarth publishes his influential book The Analysis of Beauty which presents his ideas about aesthetics.Charles Avison publishes Essay on Musical Expression; the first work of musical criticism published in English.
Obstetrician William Smellie introduces scientific midwifery.
International
Benjamin Franklin flies a kite into a thunder cloud to demonstrate the nature of electricity.Georgia becomes a royal colony; the last of the thirteen American colonies.
French seize or evict every English-speaking trader in the region of upper Ohio. Liberty Bell arrives in Philadelphia.
Robert Clive forces the surrender of French troops in the aftermath of the Siege of Trichinopoly in India.
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