Willem Wissing

1 portrait

© National Portrait Gallery, London

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Willem Wissing

by John Smith, after Willem Wissing
mezzotint, 1687
13 5/8 in. x 10 in. (345 mm x 254 mm) plate size; 14 7/8 in. x 11 3/4 in. (379 mm x 299 mm) paper size
Acquired, 1930
Reference Collection
NPG D4869

Sitterback to top

  • Willem Wissing (1656-1687), Portrait painter. Sitter in 3 portraits, Artist or producer associated with 147 portraits.

Artistsback to top

  • John Smith (1652-1743), Engraver. Artist or producer associated with 1181 portraits, Sitter in 4 portraits.
  • Willem Wissing (1656-1687), Portrait painter. Artist or producer associated with 147 portraits, Sitter in 3 portraits.

This portraitback to top

Wissing’s works were widely reproduced by leading engravers, as in this example by John Smith. This portrait is a memorial mezzotint after a lost self-portrait by Wissing. It features a Latin
dedication ‘Immodicis brevis est Aetas’, which laments the death of a rising genius cut short in his prime

Related worksback to top

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Subjects & Themesback to top

Events of 1687back to top

Current affairs

The fellows of Magdalen College, defying James II's instructions that they choose a Roman Catholic as its president, elect John Hough, Bishop of Worcester. The crown subsequently expels the fellows and annuls Hough's position.
The Declaration of Indulgence is issued, granting greater religious tolerance towards nonconformists and Catholics.

Art and science

Astronomer, Edmond Halley, publishes Isaac Newton's Principia, Newton's theory on the laws of gravity and motion.
Poet laureate, John Dryden, publishes The Hind and the Panther, a pro-Catholic, allegorical poem constructed as a theological discussion between the animals who represent the Church of Rome and Church of England respectively.

International

Papist Richard Talbot is appointed Lord Deputy of Ireland, the first Catholic to take the position since the Reformation.

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