Martha Ray
© National Portrait Gallery, London
Martha Ray
by and published by Valentine Green, after Nathaniel Dance (later Sir Nathaniel Holland, Bt)
mezzotint, published 25 May 1779 (1777)
Reference Collection
NPG D3997
Sitterback to top
- Martha Ray (1742?-1779), Singer and murder victim; mistress of 4th Earl of Sandwich. Sitter in 7 portraits.
Artistsback to top
- Nathaniel Dance (later Sir Nathaniel Holland, Bt) (1735-1811), Painter. Artist or producer associated with 63 portraits, Sitter in 1 portrait.
- Valentine Green (1739-1813), Mezzotint engraver. Artist or producer associated with 150 portraits, Sitter in 3 portraits.
Related worksback to top
- NPG D14336: Martha Ray (from same plate)
- NPG D18844: Martha Ray (from same plate)
Placesback to top
- Place made: United Kingdom: England, London (29 Newman Street, Oxford Street and 52 Strand, London)
Events of 1779back to top
Current affairs
Admiral Augustus Keppel, First Lord of the Admiralty during the final years of the American War of Independence is tried and acquitted at court martial of misconduct at the Battle of Ushant the previous year. His case becomes a cause célèbre.Botanist Joseph Banks tells a committee of the House of Commons that the east coast of Australia is suitable for the transportation of convicted felons.
Penitentiary Act authorises state prisons.
Art and science
Swiss artist Henry Fuseli settles in London after nine years in Rome. Painter and President of the Royal Academy Joshua Reynolds' celebrated Discourses on art are published as a book.World's first iron bridge is assembled across the Severn at Coalbrookdale.Inventor Samuel Crompton introduces the Spinning Mule.
John Newton and William Cowper's Olney Hymns is published, containing the first printed version of Amazing Grace.
International
American War of Independence: Spain, in alliance with France and the US, declares war on Britain. Great Siege of Gibraltar begins, in which French and Spanish forces try to wrest power from the established British Garrison, under the leadership of General George Augustus Eliot.Captain James Cook is killed in a skirmish with natives on the Sandwich Islands on his third and final voyage.
Comments back to top
We are currently unable to accept new comments, but any past comments are available to read below.
If you need information from us, please use our Archive enquiry service . Please note that we cannot provide valuations. You can buy a print or greeting card of most illustrated portraits. Select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Buy a Print button. Prices start at around £6 for unframed prints, £16 for framed prints. If you wish to license an image, select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Use this image button, or contact our Rights and Images service. We digitise over 8,000 portraits a year and we cannot guarantee being able to digitise images that are not already scheduled.