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John Dryden

(1631-1700), Dramatist and Poet Laureate

Later Stuart Portraits Catalogue Entry

Sitter associated with 31 portraits
A poet, dramatist and literary critic, Dryden was appointed Poet Laureate by Charles II in 1668. He wrote over twenty plays, including All for Love (1678), and numerous poems, particularly political satires, such as 'Absalom and Achitophel' (1681), and odes, including the famous 'Ode for St Cecilia's Day'. In 1686 he converted to Roman Catholicism, and at the Revolution of 1688 he was deprived of the laureateship. He devoted the rest of his life largely to translations, notably a verse translation of the works of Virgil.

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John Dryden, by John Michael Wright - NPG 6854

John Dryden

by John Michael Wright
oil on canvas, circa 1668
On display in Room 6 on Floor 3 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG 6854

John Dryden, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt - NPG 57

John Dryden

after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
oil on panel, feigned oval, based on a work of 1697
NPG 57

John Dryden, by William Faithorne Jr, after  John Closterman - NPG D1799

John Dryden

by William Faithorne Jr, after John Closterman
mezzotint, (circa 1690)
NPG D1799

John Dryden, by Francis Kyte, after  John Closterman - NPG D1800

John Dryden

by Francis Kyte, after John Closterman
mezzotint, (circa 1690)
NPG D1800

John Dryden, by Francis Kyte, after  John Closterman - NPG D1801

John Dryden

by Francis Kyte, after John Closterman
mezzotint, (circa 1690)
NPG D1801

John Dryden, by William Faithorne Jr, published by  Edward Cooper, after  John Closterman - NPG D19152

John Dryden

by William Faithorne Jr, published by Edward Cooper, after John Closterman
mezzotint, (circa 1690)
NPG D19152

John Dryden, by George White, published by  Thomas Bowles Sr, after  Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt - NPG D19696

John Dryden

by George White, published by Thomas Bowles Sr, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
mezzotint, (1698)
NPG D19696

John Dryden, by Jan van der Leuw (Leeuw), after  Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt - NPG D30120

John Dryden

by Jan van der Leuw (Leeuw), after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
line engraving, early 18th century (1698)
NPG D30120

John Dryden, by Gérard Edelinck, after  Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt - NPG D35591

John Dryden

by Gérard Edelinck, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
line engraving, circa 1700
NPG D35591

John Dryden, by Michael Vandergucht, after  Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt - NPG D42578

John Dryden

by Michael Vandergucht, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
line engraving, early 18th century (1693)
NPG D42578

John Dryden, by Jan van der Leuw (Leeuw), after  Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt - NPG D42580

John Dryden

by Jan van der Leuw (Leeuw), after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
line engraving, early 18th century (1698)
NPG D42580

John Dryden, by Jan van der Leuw (Leeuw), after  Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt - NPG D42581

John Dryden

by Jan van der Leuw (Leeuw), after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
line engraving, early 18th century (1698)
NPG D42581

John Dryden, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt - NPG D42582

John Dryden

after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
line engraving, early 18th century (1698)
NPG D42582

John Dryden, by Gérard Edelinck, after  Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt - NPG D42583

John Dryden

by Gérard Edelinck, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
line engraving, circa 1700 (1698)
NPG D42583

John Dryden, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt - NPG D19474

John Dryden

after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
line engraving, circa 1700 (1693)
NPG D19474

John Dryden, by Gérard Edelinck, after  Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt - NPG D20402

John Dryden

by Gérard Edelinck, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
line engraving, circa 1700
NPG D20402

John Dryden, by Pieter Stevens van Gunst, after  John Riley - NPG D42576

John Dryden

by Pieter Stevens van Gunst, after John Riley
line engraving, circa 1709 (1683)
NPG D42576

John Dryden, by Pieter Stevens van Gunst, after  John Riley - NPG D42577

John Dryden

by Pieter Stevens van Gunst, after John Riley
line engraving, circa 1709 (1683)
NPG D42577

John Dryden, by Michael Vandergucht, after  Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt - NPG D42579

John Dryden

by Michael Vandergucht, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
line engraving, circa 1709 (1693)
NPG D42579

John Dryden, by George Vertue, after  Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt - NPG D30122

John Dryden

by George Vertue, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
line engraving, 1730 (1698)
NPG D30122

John Dryden, by George Vertue, after  Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt - NPG D9354

John Dryden

by George Vertue, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
line engraving, 1730 (1698)
NPG D9354

John Dryden, by George Vertue, after  Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt - NPG D14535

John Dryden

by George Vertue, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
engraving, 1730 (1698)
NPG D14535

John Dryden, by George Vertue, after  Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt - NPG D19358

John Dryden

by George Vertue, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
engraving, 1730 (1698)
NPG D19358

John Dryden, by Jacobus Houbraken, published by  John & Paul Knapton, after  Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt - NPG D30121

John Dryden

by Jacobus Houbraken, published by John & Paul Knapton, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
line engraving, published 1743 (1698)
NPG D30121

John Dryden, by Jacobus Houbraken, published by  John & Paul Knapton, after  Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt - NPG D35592

John Dryden

by Jacobus Houbraken, published by John & Paul Knapton, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
line engraving, published 1743 (1698)
NPG D35592

John Dryden, by William Sharp, after  Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt - NPG D30119

John Dryden

by William Sharp, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
line engraving, late 18th to early 19th century (1698)
NPG D30119

John Dryden, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt - NPG D30123

John Dryden

after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
line engraving, late 18th to early 19th century (1698)
NPG D30123

John Dryden, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt - NPG D41894

John Dryden

after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
etching, late 18th century? (1698)
NPG D41894

John Dryden, by William Ridley, published by  Charles Cooke, after  W.H. Brown, after  John Closterman - NPG D23519

John Dryden

by William Ridley, published by Charles Cooke, after W.H. Brown, after John Closterman
stipple engraving, published 1 May 1798 (circa 1690)
NPG D23519

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