Samuel Johnson

1 portrait of Samuel Johnson

© National Portrait Gallery, London

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Samuel Johnson

by William Doughty, published by John Jones, after Sir Joshua Reynolds
mezzotint, published 24 June 1793 (1772-1778)
18 in. x 13 in. (458 mm x 331 mm) paper size
Purchased with help from the Friends of the National Libraries and the Pilgrim Trust, 1966
Reference Collection
NPG D36533

Sitterback to top

  • Samuel Johnson (1709-1784), Poet, critic and lexicographer. Sitter associated with 51 portraits.

Artistsback to top

  • William Doughty (1757-1781 or 1782), Portrait painter and mezzotinter. Artist or producer associated with 13 portraits, Sitter associated with 2 portraits.
  • John Jones (circa 1745-1797), Engraver and printseller. Artist or producer associated with 93 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.

Related worksback to top

  • NPG D19511: Samuel Johnson (based on same portrait)
  • NPG D36534: Samuel Johnson (based on same portrait)
  • NPG D14796: Samuel Johnson (based on same portrait)
  • NPG D14095: Samuel Johnson (based on same portrait)
  • NPG D36535: Samuel Johnson (based on same portrait)

Placesback to top

Events of 1793back to top

Current affairs

Whig MP Charles Grey enters a motion for parliamentary reform but is defeated in the House of Commons.

Art and science

Radical philosopher William Godwin publishes Political Justice, an inflamatory document that promoted rational anarchism. This crystallised a wider feeling that a new era of world peace and progress was beginning.
Sir William Beechey is appointed Portrait Painter to her Majesty, Queen Charlotte.

International

Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette are executed and the Reign of Terror begins.
France declares war on Britain, Holland and then Spain. William Pitt addresses the House of Commons and Britain hesitantly joins the first coalition of anti-revolutionary European states to oppose the French threat.
Attack on Corsica in which Captain Horatio Nelson loses an eye.

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