Thomas Hobbes

1 portrait

© National Portrait Gallery, London

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Thomas Hobbes

after John Michael Wright
oil on canvas, based on a work of circa 1669-1670
29 3/4 in. x 25 1/4 in. (756 mm x 641 mm)
Purchased, 1860
Primary Collection
NPG 106

Sitterback to top

  • Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679), Social philosopher. Sitter associated with 21 portraits.

Artistback to top

Related worksback to top

  • NPG 225: Thomas Hobbes (source portrait)

Linked publicationsback to top

  • Piper, David, Catalogue of Seventeenth Century Portraits in the National Portrait Gallery, 1625-1714, 1963, p. 166
  • Saywell, David; Simon, Jacob, Complete Illustrated Catalogue, 2004, p. 305

Subjects & Themesback to top

Events of 1669back to top

Current affairs

An indulgence is issued in Scotland, the result of Secretary of State for Scotland, John Maitland's negotiations with Presbyterians, allowing some formerly ejected clergymen to return to their ministries.
Henrietta Maria, queen of Charles I, dies at the château de Colombes and is buried in the Cathedral of St Denis.

Art and science

Architect, Christopher Wren is appointed surveyor of the king's works.
Mathematician, Isaac Newton, is made Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at Cambridge. Earlier in the year, he builds the first known reflecting telescope.
Diarist Samuel Pepys, with failing eyesight, stops writing his diary never to resume.

International

Charles II begins secret diplomatic negotiations with Louis XIV of France in April, with a view to securing an alliance against the Dutch, and financial support. Communications between the two monarchs flowed through Charles's sister, Henrietta Anne, Duchess of Orleans, sister-in-law of Louis.

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