Stephen Duck

1 portrait of Stephen Duck

© National Portrait Gallery, London

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Stephen Duck

attributed to Christian Richter
watercolour and bodycolour on vellum, circa 1740
2 in. x 1 5/8 in. (51 mm x 41 mm) oval
Given by John Lea Nevinson, 1966
Primary Collection
NPG 4493

Sitterback to top

Artistback to top

  • Christian Richter (1678-1732), Miniature painter. Artist or producer associated with 1 portrait.

Linked publicationsback to top

  • Saywell, David; Simon, Jacob, Complete Illustrated Catalogue, 2004, p. 188
  • Walker, Richard, Miniatures: 300 Years of the English Miniature, 1998, p. 55 Read entry

    Stephen Duck began life as an agricultural labourer in Wiltshire, but made strenuous efforts to educate himself and began writing poetry. He soon gained a reputation and finally came to the attention of Queen Anne, who supported him generously, to the chagrin of less extraordinary poets. His poetry was published with great success. He held several posts through the Queen's favour and eventually was ordained (1746) and had a parish in Berkshire. But in later years he became mentally unstable and melancholic, and finally drowned himself in a trout stream behind the Black Lion Inn at Reading.

    This portrait by Christian Richter seems to have been painted from life, which is unusual for this artist, whose miniatures are usually copies of full-scale portraits. Richter's portrait of Sir Richard Steele (see NPG 1506a) appears to be a variant of Kneller's portrait of 1711 (also engraved by Vertue).

Events of 1740back to top

Current affairs

The song Rule, Britannia! by Thomas Arne is performed for the first time at Cliveden, the country home of Frederick, Prince of Wales.
A now discredited account by antiquarian William Stukely asserts that Stonehenge was built by druids.

Art and science

Samuel Richardson publishes the first two volumes of Pamela, or Virtue Rewarded, the best-selling novel of the period.
Artists Joshua Reynolds and Thomas Gainsborough both arrive in London. Reynolds is apprenticed to the leading portrait-painter Thomas Hudson, while Gainsborough begins his artistic training with the French engraver and illustrator Hubert-Francois Gravelot.

International

Death of the Holy Roman Emperor Charles VI and the succession of his eldest daughter Maria Térèsa heralds the start of the War of the Austrian Succession. Britain, already fighting Spain (in the War of Jenkin's Ear), is drawn into the wider conflict as an ally of Austria until 1748.
Frederick II becomes King of Prussia.
Pope Benedict XIV succeeds Pope Clement XII as the 247th pope.


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