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William Parsons as Alscrip

1 of 17 portraits by James Parker

© National Portrait Gallery, London

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William Parsons as Alscrip

by James Parker, published by Edward Harding, after Silvester (Sylvester) Harding
stipple engraving, published 1786
9 3/4 in. x 7 1/8 in. (248 mm x 181 mm) plate size; 10 1/8 in. x 7 1/2 in. (257 mm x 191 mm) paper size
Purchased with help from the Friends of the National Libraries and the Pilgrim Trust, 1966
Reference Collection
NPG D8431

Sitterback to top

Artistsback to top

  • Edward Harding (1755-1840), Engraver, publisher and librarian to Queen Charlotte. Artist or producer associated with 189 portraits, Sitter in 1 portrait.
  • Silvester (Sylvester) Harding (1745-1809), Artist; publisher. Artist or producer associated with 221 portraits.
  • James Parker (1750-1805), Photographer. Artist or producer associated with 17 portraits, Sitter in 4 portraits.

Related worksback to top

  • NPG D8432: William Parsons as Alscrip (from same plate)
  • NPG D8433: William Parsons as Alscrip (from same plate)

Placesback to top

Events of 1786back to top

Current affairs

Philosopher and politician Edmund Burke instigates impeachment proceedings against Warren Hastings, former Governor-General of Bengal after concerns about the moral standards of the British in India are raised.
Prime Minister William Pitt appoints commissioners for the reduction of the national debt and establishes a sinking fund of £1 million a year.
Government approves the establishment of a penal colony at Botany Bay.

Art and science

Robert Burns publishes Poems Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect bringing him immediate success across the country.
Engraver and publisher John Boydell initiates plans for his Shakespeare Gallery in an effort to establish a school of British history painting.
Merchant David Dale establishes New Lanark in South Lanarkshire, Scotland, as a model cotton milling community.

International

General Charles Cornwallis succeeds Warren Hastings as Governor-General in India.
Composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's Marriage of Figaro premieres in Vienna.
Francisco Goya is appointed court painter to the Spanish king Charles III.

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