'The South Sea Scheme'

1 portrait of Alexander Pope

© National Portrait Gallery, London

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'The South Sea Scheme'

by William Hogarth
etching and engraving, circa 1721
10 1/8 in. x 12 5/8 in. (257 mm x 321 mm) paper size
Reference Collection
NPG D21368

Sittersback to top

  • John Gay (1685-1732), Poet and dramatist. Sitter associated with 12 portraits.
  • Alexander Pope (1688-1744), Poet. Sitter associated with 46 portraits.

Artistback to top

  • William Hogarth (1697-1764), Painter and engraver. Artist or producer associated with 128 portraits, Sitter associated with 19 portraits.

Events of 1721back to top

Current affairs

Robert Walpole becomes the first British Prime Minister and holds the post for an unrivalled tenure of twenty-one years.
Former Chancellor of the Exchequer John Aislabie is imprisoned in the Tower of London and found guilty of corruption for his part in the collapse of the South Sea Company.

Art and science

Artist William Hogarth produces his first satirical engraving The South Sea Scheme in response to the South Sea Bubble of the previous year.
Writer and diplomat's wife, Lady Mary Wortley Montagu introduces the smallpox inoculation to Britain. The Princess of Wales is persuaded to test the treatment and the procedure becomes fashionable.

International

Johann Sebastian Bach writes the six Brandenburg Concertos for his employer at the court of Köthen.
Montesquieu completes his best-selling Lettres Persanes (Persian Letters); a critical view of contemporary western politics, religion and society.
Treaty of Nystad in which Sweden cedes Estonia to Russia with most of Latvia. Russia becomes the dominant regional power and Peter the Great has himself proclaimed 'Emperor of all Russia'.

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