Viscountess Clifden and Duchess of Marlborough

1 portrait by John Boydell

© National Portrait Gallery, London

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Viscountess Clifden and Duchess of Marlborough

by James Watson, published by John Boydell, after Sir Joshua Reynolds
mezzotint, 1768 (1764-1767)
17 3/8 in. x 12 7/8 in. (440 mm x 328 mm) paper size
Acquired, 1958
Reference Collection
NPG D38252

Sittersback to top

Artistsback to top

  • John Boydell (1720-1804), Engraver and printseller. Artist or producer associated with 132 portraits, Sitter in 13 portraits.
  • Sir Joshua Reynolds (1723-1792), Painter and first President of the Royal Academy. Artist or producer associated with 1425 portraits, Sitter associated with 40 portraits.
  • James Watson (circa 1740-1790), Engraver. Artist or producer associated with 193 portraits.

Related worksback to top

  • NPG D38251: Duchess of Marlborough and Viscountess Clifden (based on same portrait)
  • NPG D38250: Duchess of Marlborough and Viscountess Clifden (based on same portrait)

Subjects & Themesback to top

Events of 1768back to top

Current affairs

William Pitt the Elder retires as Prime Minister due to ill health and is succeeded by Augustus FitzRoy, 3rd Duke of Grafton.
Radical outlaw John Wilkes returns to England from France and is elected as MP for Middlesex. He finally surrenders to the King's Bench and is imprisoned.

Art and science

The Royal Academy is founded with painter Joshua Reynolds as its first president.
Encyclopaedia Britannica begins publication in Edinburgh. It appears in weekly instalments under the editorship of William Smellie.
Philip Astley stages the first modern circus in what is now Waterloo.
Laurence Sterne publishes A Sentimental Journey Through France and Italy.


International

Captain James Cook leads his first expedition to the Pacific from Plymouth, heading for Tahiti to observe the transit of Venus.
Boston citizens refuse to quarter British troops amidst growing unrest in the American colonies
Corsica is sold to France by the Republic of Genoa.

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