Miss Kennedy (probably Polly Kennedy (Polly Jones))
1 portrait by Thomas Watson
© National Portrait Gallery, London
Miss Kennedy (probably Polly Kennedy (Polly Jones))
by Thomas Watson, after Sir Joshua Reynolds
mezzotint, published 1771 (1770)
19 in. x 14 in. (482 mm x 356 mm) paper size
Purchased with help from the Friends of the National Libraries and the Pilgrim Trust, 1966
Reference Collection
NPG D21299
Sitterback to top
- Polly Kennedy (Polly Jones) (died 1781), Courtesan and mistress of Sir Charles Bunbury. Sitter associated with 14 portraits.
Artistsback to top
- 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.
- Thomas Watson (1750-1781), Engraver. Artist or producer associated with 58 portraits.
Related worksback to top
- NPG D36834: Miss Kennedy (probably Polly Kennedy (Polly Jones)) (from same plate)
Subjects & Themesback to top
Events of 1771back to top
Current affairs
Artist Benjamin West exhibits his celebrated modern history painting The Death of Wolfe at the Royal Academy, commemorating the death of General James Wolfe at the 1759 Battle of Quebec during the Seven Years' War. The painting creates a sensation and George III commissions a copy.Reporting of parliamentary debates is permitted.
Art and science
Richard Arkwright begins to develop cotton mills at Cromford in the Derwent Valley, Derbyshire; one of the earliest factory complexes.Botanist James Robertson makes the first recorded ascent of Ben Nevis.
Encyclopedia Britannica is completed with 2,931 pages.
First recorded cricket match is played in Horsham, West Sussex.
International
First voyage of James Cook ends. HMS Endeavour anchors in the port of Deal, Kent following its three-year global circumnavigation.Spain cedes the Falkland Islands to Britain.
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.