'Tentanda via est qua me quoque possim tollere humo'
45 of 51 portraits of George Tierney
'Tentanda via est qua me quoque possim tollere humo'
by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching, engraving and aquatint, published 8 August 1810
20 1/4 in. x 15 3/4 in. (515 mm x 399 mm) paper size
Purchased, 1947
Reference Collection
NPG D13118
Artistsback to top
- James Gillray (1756-1815), Caricaturist. Artist or producer associated with 887 portraits, Sitter in 7 portraits.
- Hannah Humphrey (circa 1745-1818), Publisher and printseller. Artist or producer associated with 720 portraits, Sitter in 1 portrait.
Sittersback to top
- Richard Temple-Nugent-Brydges-Chandos-Grenville, 1st Duke of Buckingham and Chandos (1776-1839), Statesman and print collector. Sitter associated with 41 portraits. Identify
- George Nugent-Temple-Grenville, 1st Marquess of Buckingham (1753-1813), Politician; MP for Buckinghamshire and Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. Sitter in 34 portraits. Identify
- George James Cholmondeley, 1st Marquess of Cholmondeley (1749-1827), Chamberlain to the Prince of Wales. Sitter associated with 16 portraits. Identify
- William Crowe (1745-1829), Poet and divine. Sitter in 4 portraits. Identify
- Thomas Erskine, 1st Baron Erskine (1750-1823), Lord Chancellor. Sitter associated with 69 portraits. Identify
- William Wyndham Grenville, 1st Baron Grenville (1759-1834), Prime Minister. Sitter associated with 70 portraits. Identify
- Thomas Grenville (1755-1846), Book collector and diplomat. Sitter associated with 13 portraits. Identify
- Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey (1764-1845), Prime Minister. Sitter associated with 190 portraits. Identify
- Henry Richard Fox (later Vassall), 3rd Baron Holland (1773-1840), Whig statesman and patron of art and letters. Sitter associated with 57 portraits. Identify
- Henry Petty-Fitzmaurice, 3rd Marquess of Lansdowne (1780-1863), Whig politician; Home Secretary, Chancellor of the Exchequer and Lord President of the Council; Trustee of the National Portrait Gallery. Sitter associated with 77 portraits. Identify
- George Nugent Grenville, Baron Nugent (1788-1850), Writer. Sitter in 18 portraits. Identify
- Richard Brinsley Sheridan (1751-1816), Dramatist and parliamentary orator. Sitter associated with 168 portraits. Identify
- Henry Addington, 1st Viscount Sidmouth (1757-1844), Prime Minister. Sitter associated with 78 portraits. Identify
- George Granville Leveson-Gower, 1st Duke of Sutherland (1758-1833), Diplomat and magnate. Sitter in 22 portraits. Identify
- Michael Angelo Taylor (circa 1757-1834), Barrister and politician; MP for Poole, Ilchester and City of Durham. Sitter associated with 35 portraits. Identify
- George Tierney (1761-1830), Politician; MP for Southwark and Knaresborough. Sitter associated with 51 portraits. Identify
- Samuel Whitbread (1764-1815), Politician and brewer; son of brewer Samuel Whitbread. Sitter associated with 21 portraits. Identify
- Charles Watkin Williams Wynn (1775-1850), Politician; President of the Board of Control. Sitter in 10 portraits.
- Sir Henry Watkin Williams Wynn (1783-1856), Diplomat. Sitter in 3 portraits.
- Sir Watkin Williams Wynn, 5th Bt (1772-1840), Welsh politician; MP for several constituencies. Sitter in 6 portraits.
Subjects & Themesback to top
Events of 1810back to top
Current affairs
Serious 'Burdett and Liberty' riots break out in London in support of radical MP Sir Francis Burdett who had been arrested for denouncing the House of Common's decision to bar journalists from some debates.Princess Amelia dies triggering renewed bout of illness in her father, George III.
Art and science
Sir Walter Scott publishes his chivalrous, medieval ballad, The Lady of the Lake, set on Loch Katrine in Perthshire.Kennett and Avon Trunk Canal is completed.
First Savings Bank is set up by financier Henry Duncan.
International
Madame De Stael writes De l'Allemagne which portrays Germany as a model of Romantic nationalism for emerging revolutionary nations. It was banned by Napoleon but published in London to great acclaim.Lisbon besieged. Wellington takes shelter behind the fortified lines of the Torres Vedras and the French army are forced to retreat.
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