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Sir Richard Steele

(1672-1729), Dramatist and essayist

Later Stuart Portraits Catalogue Entry

Sitter in 33 portraits
Sir Richard Steele was born in Dublin. After a brief period as a captain in the army, he moved to London where he became a dramatist and an essayist, noted for his contributions to The Tatler (1709-11) and The Spectator (1711-12), which he co-founded with Joseph Addison. In 1705 Steele married Margaret Stretch, a widow from Barbados whose estates included sugar plantations worked on by enslaved Africans. Just over a year later, she died and Steele inherited her fortune. At this time Steele was a prominent member of the Kit-Cat Club and he later became a Whig politician. Although a successful playwright, his most significant contribution was probably to the print industry through his introduction of mass printing and distribution techniques.

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Sir Richard Steele, by Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt - NPG 3227

Sir Richard Steele

by Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
oil on canvas, 1711
On display in Room 8 on Floor 3 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG 3227

Sir Richard Steele, by Jonathan Richardson - NPG 5067

Sir Richard Steele

by Jonathan Richardson
oil on canvas, 1712
NPG 5067

Sir Richard Steele, by Jonathan Richardson - NPG 160

Sir Richard Steele

by Jonathan Richardson
oil on canvas, 1712
NPG 160

Sir Richard Steele, by Unknown artist - NPG 1506a

Sir Richard Steele

by Unknown artist
watercolour and bodycolour on ivory, circa 1720-1723
NPG 1506a

Sir Richard Steele, after Sir James Thornhill - NPG D42156

Sir Richard Steele

after Sir James Thornhill
mezzotint, 18th century
NPG D42156

Sir Richard Steele, by and published by John Simon, after Unknown artist - NPG D4299

Sir Richard Steele

by and published by John Simon, after Unknown artist
mezzotint, circa 1710-1740
NPG D4299

Sir Richard Steele, by John Sturt, published by John Bowles, after Bernard Lens (II) - NPG D14964

Sir Richard Steele

by John Sturt, published by John Bowles, after Bernard Lens (II)
line engraving, published 1710
NPG D14964

Sir Richard Steele, sold by John Bowles, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt - NPG D42161

Sir Richard Steele

sold by John Bowles, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
mezzotint, (1711)
NPG D42161

Sir Richard Steele, published by Edward Cooper, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt - NPG D19021

Sir Richard Steele

published by Edward Cooper, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
mezzotint, (1711 or 1712)
NPG D19021

Sir Richard Steele, by John Simon, sold by John Smith, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt - NPG D42157

Sir Richard Steele

by John Simon, sold by John Smith, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
mezzotint, 1712-1713 (1711)
NPG D42157

Sir Richard Steele, by John Simon, sold by John Smith, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt - NPG D4297

Sir Richard Steele

by John Simon, sold by John Smith, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
mezzotint, 1712-1713 (1711)
NPG D4297

Sir Richard Steele, by John Simon, sold by John Smith, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt - NPG D11511

Sir Richard Steele

by John Simon, sold by John Smith, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
mezzotint, 1712-1713 (1711)
NPG D11511

Sir Richard Steele, after Jonathan Richardson - NPG D18744

Sir Richard Steele

after Jonathan Richardson
mezzotint, (1712)
NPG D18744

Sir Richard Steele, by and sold by John Smith, after Jonathan Richardson - NPG D27589

Sir Richard Steele

by and sold by John Smith, after Jonathan Richardson
mezzotint, 1713 (1712)
NPG D27589

Sir Richard Steele, by and sold by John Smith, after Jonathan Richardson - NPG D42159

Sir Richard Steele

by and sold by John Smith, after Jonathan Richardson
mezzotint, 1713 (1712)
NPG D42159

Sir Richard Steele, by and sold by John Smith, after Jonathan Richardson - NPG D6841

Sir Richard Steele

by and sold by John Smith, after Jonathan Richardson
mezzotint, 1713 (1712)
NPG D6841

Sir Richard Steele, by and sold by John Smith, after Jonathan Richardson - NPG D11510

Sir Richard Steele

by and sold by John Smith, after Jonathan Richardson
mezzotint, 1713 (1712)
NPG D11510

Sir Richard Steele, by George Vertue, after Sir James Thornhill - NPG D27586

Sir Richard Steele

by George Vertue, after Sir James Thornhill
line engraving, 1714
NPG D27586

Sir Richard Steele, by George Vertue, after Sir James Thornhill - NPG D19017

Sir Richard Steele

by George Vertue, after Sir James Thornhill
line engraving, 1714
NPG D19017

Sir Richard Steele, by George Vertue, after Sir James Thornhill - NPG D18160

Sir Richard Steele

by George Vertue, after Sir James Thornhill
line engraving, 1714
NPG D18160

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