'The Departure'
1 portrait of Edmund Burke
'The Departure'
by Thomas Rowlandson, published by William Humphrey
hand-coloured etching, published 29 April 1784
9 7/8 in. x 13 3/4 in. (250 mm x 351 mm) plate size; 11 1/4 in. x 15 7/8 in. (285 mm x 402 mm) paper size
Bequeathed by (Frederick) Leverton Harris, 1927
Reference Collection
NPG D14836
Sittersback to top
- Henrietta Frances ('Harriet') Ponsonby (née Spencer), Countess of Bessborough (1761-1821), Noblewoman. Sitter in 9 portraits. Identify
- Edmund Burke (1729-1797), Statesman; orator; author. Sitter associated with 107 portraits. Identify
- Georgiana Cavendish (née Spencer), Duchess of Devonshire (1757-1806), Beauty and leader of Whig society; first wife of 5th Duke of Devonshire. Sitter in 32 portraits. Identify
- Charles James Fox (1749-1806), Whig statesman. Sitter associated with 313 portraits. Identify
- King George IV (1762-1830), Regent 1811-19; Reigned 1820-30. Sitter associated with 274 portraits. Identify
Artistsback to top
- William Humphrey (1742?-before 1815), Engraver and printseller. Artist or producer associated with 70 portraits.
- Thomas Rowlandson (1757-1827), Satirical draughtsman. Artist or producer associated with 30 portraits, Sitter associated with 4 portraits.
Subjects & Themesback to top
Events of 1784back to top
Current affairs
Theatre proprietor and postal reformer John Palmer runs the first mail coach in England, between Bristol and London. A three day journey is now completed in 16 hours.Commutation Act reduces punitive duties on tea to combat smuggling.
Art and science
Aeronaut James Sadler makes the first hot air balloon flight in Britain, from Oxford to Woodeaton.Chemist Henry Cavendish's paper Experiments on Air reveals the composition of water.
Writer Samuel Johnson dies.
Joshua Reynolds succeeds Allan Ramsay as Painter to the King.
International
Thomas Jefferson's Land Ordinance passed by the United States' Continental Congress, coming into effect the following year. It allows for the sale of land in the largely unmapped west of the country.Britain receives its first bales of cotton from the United States since before the War of American Independence.
William Pitt's India Act creates a Board of Control to oversee the affairs of the British East India Company and centralise power.
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