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George Frideric Handel
4 of 36 portraits of George Frideric Handel
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© National Portrait Gallery, London
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George Frideric Handel
by Unknown artist
terracotta bust, circa 1755-1780
17 1/4 in. (438 mm) high
Given by W.H. Withall, 1891
Primary Collection
NPG 878
This portraitback to top
Once attributed to Roubiliac, the only major contemporary sculptor known to have portrayed Handel, it is clear that in reality this terracotta bust is another type by another hand. It is tempting to associate it with an as yet unidentified edition of thirty casts advertised for sale by an F. Bull as early as 1758. More detailed information on this portrait is available in a National Portrait Gallery collection catalogue, John Kerslake's Early Georgian Portraits (1977, out of print).
Linked publicationsback to top
- Kerslake, John, Early Georgian Portraits, 1977, p. 126
- Saywell, David; Simon, Jacob, Complete Illustrated Catalogue, 2004, p. 277
Events of 1755back to top
Current affairs
George Grenville resigns as Treasurer of the Navy and Henry Bilson Legge as Chancellor of the Exchequer in protest over payments made to Russia to protect Hanover. William Pitt the Elder is dismissed from the position of Paymaster of the Forces.Art and science
Samuel Johnson publishes his monumental Dictionary; the first authoritative dictionary of the English language.Methodist preacher John Wesley publishes Notes on a New Testament.
International
An earthquake nearly completely destroys Lisbon, Portugal. The event is widely discussed by European Enlightenment thinkers, inspiring Voltaire's Candide. Its intensive study leads to the birth of modern seismology and earthquake engineering.Edward Braddock fights French and Indian troops in the Ohio valley. His army are ambushed at Fort Duquesne and he is killed; one of several encounters prior to the declaration of the Seven Years War.
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