'John Milton and his two daughters' (Deborah Milton; Mary Milton; John Milton)

1 portrait of John Milton

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© National Portrait Gallery, London

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'John Milton and his two daughters' (Deborah Milton; Mary Milton; John Milton)

by Benjamin Smith, published by John Boydell, published by Josiah Boydell, published by George Nicol, after George Romney
stipple engraving, published 4 June 1795
12 5/8 in. x 14 in. (320 mm x 356 mm) paper size
Purchased with help from the Friends of the National Libraries and the Pilgrim Trust, 1966
Reference Collection
NPG D38839

Sittersback to top

Artistsback to top

  • John Boydell (1720-1804), Engraver and printseller. Artist or producer associated with 132 portraits, Sitter in 13 portraits.
  • Josiah Boydell (1752-1817), Artist and publisher. Artist or producer associated with 69 portraits.
  • George Nicol (1740?-1828), Bookseller and publisher. Artist or producer associated with 4 portraits.
  • George Romney (1734-1802), Portrait painter. Artist or producer associated with 173 portraits, Sitter in 5 portraits.
  • Benjamin Smith (circa 1754-1833), Engraver, printseller and publisher. Artist or producer associated with 16 portraits.

This portraitback to top

Milton famously lost his sight in 1651, before authoring his epic poem Paradise Lost (1667). This depiction of the brooding poet dictating poetry to his daughters compounds the mythic association of blindness with inner vision and genius. Biographies of blind people in the nineteenth century frequently turned to Milton's poetry as evidence of the experience of blindness, frequently quoting his description of it as 'wisdom at one entrance quite shut out'.

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Events of 1795back to top

Current affairs

George, Prince of Wales is forced to marry Caroline Amelia Elizabeth of Brunswick, despite having secretly married Maria Fitzherbert in 1785.
Widespread rioting prompts the introduction of the Speenhamland system of welfare supplements which are linked to the price of bread.
Treasonable Practices Act is passed against open criticism of government.

Art and science

The MP Matthew Gregory 'Monk' Lewis publishes his notorious gothic novel The Monk to success and scandal because of its immoral content.
Mungo Park explores the course of the River Niger.

International

Wolfe Tone, founder of The Society of United Irishmen, departs for America after being implicated in high treason in Ireland. Exiled in Philadelphia, he soon leaves for France to ask revolutionaries for assistance.
Joseph Haydn composes the English Canzonettas during his second stay in London.

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Marjorie Edwards

18 March 2018, 08:05

Whilst researching my family history, I find that Mary Powell Milton (1648) married Hezekias Vass (also Feasey) on 24th November 1681 (at the age of 33) in St James Church, Duke Place, Piccadilly. Hezekias Vass was my 8th great grandfather. I cannot find any further detailed information on this, nor a photo from the parish register - only the documentation on the Ancestry records. Do you have any further information on Mary so I can establish whether this marriage is correct? I have details of all Hezekiah's family down to the present day. Thank you. Marjorie Edwards