Jane Austen
© National Portrait Gallery, London
Jane Austen
published by Richard Bentley, after Cassandra Austen
stipple engraving, published 1870
7 5/8 in. x 5 1/2 in. (195 mm x 142 mm)
Given by Miss Lefroy, 1882
Reference Collection
NPG D1008
Artistsback to top
- Cassandra Austen (1773-1845), Artist. Artist or producer associated with 4 portraits.
- Richard Bentley (1794-1871), Printer and publisher. Artist or producer associated with 65 portraits, Sitter in 1 portrait.
This portraitback to top
This engraving is the basis for a late nineteenth-century engraving, commissioned by Austen's nephew, which features on the ten pound bank note.
Related worksback to top
- NPG D1007: Jane Austen (from same plate)
- NPG D13873: Jane Austen (from same plate)
Events of 1870back to top
Current affairs
William Edward Forster's Education Act is passed, making provisions for education for all under-13s. It demonstrated the balance in Gladstone's first ministry between progressive reform and conservativism by spreading literacy, whilst maintaining the status of Church schools.The Married Women's Property Act gives wives rights over their own earnings.
Art and science
The Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's fantasy-overture Romeo and Juliet, based on Shakespeare's play and written with the aid of composer Mily Balakirev, debuts in Moscow, conducted by Nikolai Rubenstein.W. G. Grace becomes cricket captain of Gloucestershire, marking the start of a successful decade for the club in which they won three 'Champion County' titles.
International
Isaac Butt, an Irish MP at Westminster, forms the Home Rule Association.The Franco-Prussian war breaks out between France and a coalition of German states led by Prussia. Provoked by the candidacy of German Prince Leopold Hohenzollen-Sigmaringen for the Spanish throne, France declared war in July after Bismark published the deliberately provocative Ems telegraph, in which the French were represented in an offensive light on the issue.
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