William Henry West Betty as Young Norval in 'Douglas'
1 portrait
© National Portrait Gallery, London
William Henry West Betty as Young Norval in 'Douglas'
by James Heath, after John Opie
hand-coloured line engraving, published 1807
22 1/2 in. x 14 1/8 in. (572 mm x 360 mm) plate size; 23 1/8 in. x 14 5/8 in. (586 mm x 370 mm) paper size
Purchased with help from the Friends of the National Libraries and the Pilgrim Trust, 1966
Reference Collection
NPG D31737
Sitterback to top
- William Henry West Betty (1791-1874), Known as 'The Young Roscius'; actor. Sitter associated with 9 portraits.
Artistsback to top
- James Heath (1757-1834), Engraver. Artist or producer associated with 84 portraits, Sitter associated with 8 portraits.
- John Opie (1761-1807), Portrait and history painter. Artist or producer associated with 151 portraits, Sitter in 13 portraits.
Events of 1807back to top
Current affairs
Act is passed abolishing the British slave trade after vigorous campaigning by hundreds of thousands of people led by Thomas Clarkson and championed in parliament by reformer William Wilberforce.Resignation of 'Ministry of all the Talents'. Whig politician William Henry Cavendish Bentinck, Duke of Portland, succeeds as Prime Minister.
Art and science
Thomas Hope publishes Household Furniture and Interior Decoration; influential in promoting Greek and especially Egyptian models as the epitome of fashionable style.International
French invasion of Spain and Portugal.Britain occupies Copenhagen and captures the Danish fleet.
Napoleon begins to wage an economic battle against Britain, recognising the impossibility of victory at sea because of Britain's superior naval power. He aims to close the entire European coastline to British trade.
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