'A Sacrifice to Hymen'
1 portrait by James Birchall
'A Sacrifice to Hymen'
by Thomas Watson, published by James Birchall, after Sir Joshua Reynolds
mezzotint, published 1 March 1784 (1773)
20 1/8 in. x 24 in. (510 mm x 610 mm) plate size; 20 3/4 in. x 25 7/8 in. (528 mm x 656 mm) paper size
Acquired, 1868
Reference Collection
NPG D38918
Sittersback to top
- Barbara Beresford (née Montgomery) (circa 1757-1788), Second wife of John Beresford; daughter of Sir William Montgomery, 1st Bt. Sitter in 2 portraits. Identify
- Hon. Elizabeth Gardiner (née Montgomery) (1751-1783), First wife of Luke Gardiner, later 1st Viscount Mountjoy. Sitter in 2 portraits. Identify
- Anne Townshend (née Montgomery), Marchioness Townshend (1754-1819), Second wife of 1st Marquess Townshend; daughter of Sir WIlliam Montgomery, 1st Bt. Sitter in 5 portraits. Identify
Artistsback to top
- James Birchall (died 1794), Print publisher and framemaker. Artist or producer associated with 9 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.
- Thomas Watson (1750-1781), Engraver. Artist or producer associated with 58 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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