John Gay

1 portrait by William Aikman

© National Portrait Gallery, London

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John Gay

by George Bickham the Elder, after William Aikman
coloured line engraving, published 1729
8 3/8 in. x 7 in. (213 mm x 179 mm) paper size
Purchased with help from the Friends of the National Libraries and the Pilgrim Trust, 1966
Reference Collection
NPG D9490

Sitterback to top

  • John Gay (1685-1732), Poet and dramatist. Sitter associated with 12 portraits.

Artistsback to top

  • William Aikman (1682-1731), Portrait painter. Artist or producer associated with 29 portraits.
  • George Bickham the Elder (1683 or 1684-1758). Artist or producer associated with 11 portraits.

This portraitback to top

This medley print contains lines from Gay's poem The Shepherd's Week (1714) which satirised the pseudo-archaic style of the poet Ambrose Philips (1674-1749), and ridiculed rural folklore and customs. The medley print format mimicked the look of scattered prints on sale in a shop. It enabled the engraver to demonstrate his skill and versatility.

Portrait setback to top

Subjects & Themesback to top

Events of 1729back to top

Current affairs

Committee of the House of Commons appointed to enquire into the state of Britain's gaols.
Opening of the first Putney Bridge; the only fixed crossing of the River Thames between London Bridge and Kingston Bridge at the time.
Tornado destroys buildings in Sussex and Kent

Art and science

Chiswick House in London, a pioneering example of English Palladian revival architecture, is designed by its owner Richard Boyle with the help of the architect William Kent.
Jonathan Swift publishes A Modest Proposal; a satirical attack on attitudes towards the poor and Irish policy more generally.


International

Benjamin Franklin prints, publishes and largely writes the weekly Pennsylvania Gazette, which soon becomes the most successful newspaper in the colonies.
Treaty of Seville seals peace between Britain and Spain.
King Frederick IV of Denmark charters the Danish East India Company.

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