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Edmund Burke

(1729-1797), Statesman; orator; author

Mid-Georgian Portraits Catalogue Entry

Sitter associated with 107 portraits
Burke was one of the eighteenth century's leading statesmen, political thinkers and writers. His impact on the Regency age centres on his Reflections on the Revolution in France (1790), a major work opposing the French Revolution which laid the foundations of modern British conservatism. Originally a Whig, he showed liberal support for the North American colonies and Catholic emancipation. Despite his early reputation as a reformer, Burke's Reflections expressed fears that revolutionary ideals would violently destroy essential British traditions and institutions. These views led him to break with the Whigs and side with the Tories, for whom he became a figurehead.

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Edmund Burke, studio of Sir Joshua Reynolds - NPG 655

Edmund Burke

studio of Sir Joshua Reynolds
oil on canvas, circa 1769 or after
On display in Room 12 on Floor 3 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG 655

Edmund Burke, after Sir Joshua Reynolds - NPG D18891

Edmund Burke

after Sir Joshua Reynolds
stipple engraving, (1767-1779)
NPG D18891

Edmund Burke, by James Watson, after  Sir Joshua Reynolds - NPG D32420

Edmund Burke

by James Watson, after Sir Joshua Reynolds
mezzotint, published 1770
NPG D32420

'Paradise lost', by James Sayers, published by  Charles Bretherton - NPG D9562

'Paradise lost'

by James Sayers, published by Charles Bretherton
etching, published 17 July 1782
NPG D9562

Edmund Burke, by James Sayers, published by  Charles Bretherton - NPG D9665

Edmund Burke

by James Sayers, published by Charles Bretherton
etching, published 6 April 1782
NPG D9665

'Banco to the knave', by James Gillray, published by  Hannah Humphrey - NPG D12304

'Banco to the knave'

by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching, published 12 April 1782
NPG D12304

'Britania's assassination. Or the Repulicans amusement', by James Gillray, published by  Elizabeth d'Achery - NPG D12305

'Britania's assassination. Or the Repulicans amusement'

by James Gillray, published by Elizabeth d'Achery
hand-coloured etching, published 10 May 1782
NPG D12305

Edmund Burke ('Cincinnatus in retirement'), by James Gillray, published by  Elizabeth d'Achery - NPG D12313

Edmund Burke ('Cincinnatus in retirement')

by James Gillray, published by Elizabeth d'Achery
hand-coloured etching, published 23 August 1782
NPG D12313

'Guy Vaux', by James Gillray, published by  William Humphrey - NPG D12324

'Guy Vaux'

by James Gillray, published by William Humphrey
hand-coloured etching, published circa June 1782
NPG D12324

'Evacuation before resignation', by James Gillray, published by  Hannah Humphrey - NPG D12985

'Evacuation before resignation'

by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching, published 21 May 1782
NPG D12985

'Paradise lost', by James Sayers, published by  Charles Bretherton - NPG D16764

'Paradise lost'

by James Sayers, published by Charles Bretherton
etching, published 17 July 1782
NPG D16764

'Carlo Khan's triumphal entry into Leadenhall Street', by James Sayers, published by  Thomas Cornell - NPG D9748

'Carlo Khan's triumphal entry into Leadenhall Street'

by James Sayers, published by Thomas Cornell
etching, published 5 December 1783
NPG D9748

'Coalition dance' (Frederick North, 2nd Earl of Guilford; Charles James Fox; Edmund Burke), by James Gillray, published by  William Humphrey - NPG D12334

'Coalition dance' (Frederick North, 2nd Earl of Guilford; Charles James Fox; Edmund Burke)

by James Gillray, published by William Humphrey
hand-coloured etching, published 5 April 1783
NPG D12334

'A block for the wigs - or, the new state whirligig', by James Gillray, published by  William Humphrey - NPG D12340

'A block for the wigs - or, the new state whirligig'

by James Gillray, published by William Humphrey
hand-coloured etching, published 5 May 1783
NPG D12340

'Banditti', by John Boyne, published by  Edward Hedges - NPG D12343

'Banditti'

by John Boyne, published by Edward Hedges
etching, published 22 December 1783
NPG D12343

'Thunder, lightning and smoke', published by William Moore, and published by  W. Dickie - NPG D15004

'Thunder, lightning and smoke'

published by William Moore, and published by W. Dickie
hand-coloured etching, published 22 April 1783
NPG D15004

'Carlo Khan's triumphal entry into Leadenhall Street', by James Sayers, published by  Thomas Cornell - NPG D16765

'Carlo Khan's triumphal entry into Leadenhall Street'

by James Sayers, published by Thomas Cornell
etching, published 5 December 1783
NPG D16765

'Pand[e]monium', by James Sayers, published by  Thomas Cornell - NPG D12234

'Pand[e]monium'

by James Sayers, published by Thomas Cornell
etching, published 12 January 1784
NPG D12234

'General Blackbeard wounded at the battle of Leadenhall', by John Boyne, published by  Edward Hedges - NPG D12344

'General Blackbeard wounded at the battle of Leadenhall'

by John Boyne, published by Edward Hedges
etching, published 5 January 1784
NPG D12344

'The Departure', by Thomas Rowlandson, published by  William Humphrey - NPG D14836

'The Departure'

by Thomas Rowlandson, published by William Humphrey
hand-coloured etching, published 29 April 1784
NPG D14836

'[Burke] on the sublime and beautiful', by James Sayers, published by  Thomas Cornell - NPG D12237

'[Burke] on the sublime and beautiful'

by James Sayers, published by Thomas Cornell
etching, published 6 April 1785
NPG D12237

'Concerto coalitionale', by James Sayers, published by  Thomas Cornell - NPG D12238

'Concerto coalitionale'

by James Sayers, published by Thomas Cornell
etching, published 7 June 1785
NPG D12238

'Morning preparation' (Frederick North, 2nd Earl of Guilford; Charles James Fox; Edmund Burke), by James Gillray, published by  Hannah Humphrey - NPG D12348

'Morning preparation' (Frederick North, 2nd Earl of Guilford; Charles James Fox; Edmund Burke)

by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching and aquatint, published 25 February 1785
NPG D12348

'Evening consolation' (Edmund Burke; Frederick North, 2nd Earl of Guilford; Charles James Fox), by James Gillray, published by  Hannah Humphrey - NPG D12349

'Evening consolation' (Edmund Burke; Frederick North, 2nd Earl of Guilford; Charles James Fox)

by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching and aquatint, published 25 February 1785
NPG D12349

'Westminster school. or - Dr Busby settling accounts with Master-Billy and his playmates', by James Gillray, published by  James Ridgway - NPG D12993

'Westminster school. or - Dr Busby settling accounts with Master-Billy and his playmates'

by James Gillray, published by James Ridgway
hand-coloured etching, published 4 February 1785
NPG D12993

'The political-banditti assailing the saviour of India', by James Gillray, published by  William Holland - NPG D1360

'The political-banditti assailing the saviour of India'

by James Gillray, published by William Holland
hand-coloured etching, published 11 May 1786
NPG D1360

'The impeachment' (Warren Hastings; Edmund Burke), by James Sayers, published by  Thomas Cornell - NPG D9569

'The impeachment' (Warren Hastings; Edmund Burke)

by James Sayers, published by Thomas Cornell
etching and aquatint, published 17 March 1786
NPG D9569

'Wife & no wife - or - a trip to the Continent', by James Gillray, published by  William Holland - NPG D13066

'Wife & no wife - or - a trip to the Continent'

by James Gillray, published by William Holland
hand-coloured etching, published 27 March 1786
NPG D13066

'A shot at the min....r for a call of the House', by James Sayers, published by  Thomas Cornell - NPG D9545

'A shot at the min....r for a call of the House'

by James Sayers, published by Thomas Cornell
etching, published 6 February 1787
NPG D9545

'A puerile attack upon an old servant', by James Sayers, published by  Thomas Cornell - NPG D12244

'A puerile attack upon an old servant'

by James Sayers, published by Thomas Cornell
etching and aquatint, published 17 March 1787
NPG D12244

'Anticipation, or the approaching fate of the French Commercial Treaty', by James Gillray, published by  William Holland - NPG D12356

'Anticipation, or the approaching fate of the French Commercial Treaty'

by James Gillray, published by William Holland
hand-coloured etching, published 1787?
NPG D12356

'The Prince at Grasse', by James Gillray, published by  Samuel William Fores - NPG D12362

'The Prince at Grasse'

by James Gillray, published by Samuel William Fores
hand-coloured etching, published 2 June 1787
NPG D12362

'The Prince in Clover', by James Gillray, published by  Samuel William Fores - NPG D12363

'The Prince in Clover'

by James Gillray, published by Samuel William Fores
hand-coloured etching, published 2 June 1787
NPG D12363

'The sick prince', by James Gillray, published by  Samuel William Fores - NPG D12365

'The sick prince'

by James Gillray, published by Samuel William Fores
hand-coloured etching, published 16 June 1787
NPG D12365

'Dido forsaken', by James Gillray, published by  Samuel William Fores - NPG D12994

'Dido forsaken'

by James Gillray, published by Samuel William Fores
hand-coloured etching, published 21 May 1787
NPG D12994

'Galante show' (Edmund Burke; Edward Smith Stanley, 12th Earl of Derby), by James Sayers, published by  Thomas Cornell - NPG D7895

'Galante show' (Edmund Burke; Edward Smith Stanley, 12th Earl of Derby)

by James Sayers, published by Thomas Cornell
etching and aquatint, published 6 May 1788
NPG D7895

'Galante show', by James Sayers, published by  Thomas Cornell - NPG D9557

'Galante show'

by James Sayers, published by Thomas Cornell
etching and aquatint, published 6 May 1788
NPG D9557

'The princess's bow alias the Bow Begum', by James Sayers, published by  Thomas Cornell - NPG D9573

'The princess's bow alias the Bow Begum'

by James Sayers, published by Thomas Cornell
etching, published 1 May 1788
NPG D9573

Edmund Burke ('The first charge - exit in fumo'), by James Sayers, published by  Thomas Cornell - NPG D9663

Edmund Burke ('The first charge - exit in fumo')

by James Sayers, published by Thomas Cornell
etching, published 14 April 1788
NPG D9663

'The shadow of opposition', by James Sayers, published by  Thomas Cornell - NPG D12248

'The shadow of opposition'

by James Sayers, published by Thomas Cornell
etching and aquatint, published 31 March 1788
NPG D12248

'The Westminster hunt', by James Gillray, published by  Samuel William Fores - NPG D12376

'The Westminster hunt'

by James Gillray, published by Samuel William Fores
hand-coloured etching, published 27 April 1788
NPG D12376

'Market day', by James Gillray, published by  Samuel William Fores - NPG D12377

'Market day'

by James Gillray, published by Samuel William Fores
hand-coloured etching, published 2 May 1788
NPG D12377

'Galante show' (Edmund Burke; Edward Smith Stanley, 12th Earl of Derby), by James Sayers, published by  Thomas Cornell - NPG D12379

'Galante show' (Edmund Burke; Edward Smith Stanley, 12th Earl of Derby)

by James Sayers, published by Thomas Cornell
etching and aquatint, published 6 May 1788
NPG D12379

'State-jugglers', by James Gillray, published by  Samuel William Fores - NPG D12381

'State-jugglers'

by James Gillray, published by Samuel William Fores
hand-coloured etching, published 16 May 1788
NPG D12381

'Opposition-', by James Gillray, published by  Samuel William Fores - NPG D12382

'Opposition-'

by James Gillray, published by Samuel William Fores
hand-coloured etching, published 20 May 1788
NPG D12382

'The butchers of freedom', by James Gillray, published by  Hannah Humphrey - NPG D12384

'The butchers of freedom'

by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching and aquatint, published July 1788
NPG D12384

'Bubbles of opposition', by James Gillray - NPG D12385

'Bubbles of opposition'

by James Gillray
hand-coloured etching and aquatint, published 19 July 1788
NPG D12385

'Mason, the Duke's confectioner, disposing of the trinkets', by James Gillray, published by  Hannah Humphrey - NPG D12386

'Mason, the Duke's confectioner, disposing of the trinkets'

by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching and aquatint, published 21 July 1788
NPG D12386

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