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John Wilkes

(1725-1797), Journalist, agitator and politician; MP for Aylesbury and Middlesex

Mid-Georgian Portraits Catalogue Entry

Sitter associated with 49 portraits
Artist associated with 1 portrait
Radical politician. Wilkes's imprisonment for libel and banishment from the House of Commons brought into question the validity of parliamentary elections. Arrested in 1763 for publishing an attack on the King's speech in his newspaper The North Briton, his case became a popular cause, sparking violent public protests to the cry of 'Wilkes and Liberty'. Finally permitted to take his seat in 1774, he was then elected Lord Mayor of London. With his squint, crossed eyes and long jaw, Wilkes was called the ugliest man in England at the time, but he was well known for his verbal wit and snappy responses to insults.

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John Wilkes, by Unknown artist - NPG 284

John Wilkes

by Unknown artist
black and white chalk with grey wash on paper, 1769?
NPG 284

'The Times', Plate 1, by William Hogarth - NPG D21366

'The Times', Plate 1

by William Hogarth
etching and engraving, published 1762
NPG D21366

John Wilkes, after Unknown artist - NPG D22618

John Wilkes

after Unknown artist
wax impression of a seal, (1763-1768)
NPG D22618

John Wilkes, by John Sebastian Miller (formerly Johann Sebastian Müller), published by  Carington Bowles - NPG D37521

John Wilkes

by John Sebastian Miller (formerly Johann Sebastian Müller), published by Carington Bowles
line engraving, published 1763
NPG D37521

John Wilkes, by William Hogarth - NPG D1362

John Wilkes

by William Hogarth
etching, published 16 May 1763
NPG D1362

John Wilkes, by John Sebastian Miller (formerly Johann Sebastian Müller) - NPG D8329

John Wilkes

by John Sebastian Miller (formerly Johann Sebastian Müller)
line engraving, published 1763
NPG D8329

John Wilkes, by William Hogarth - NPG D8506

John Wilkes

by William Hogarth
etching, published 16 May 1763
NPG D8506

John Wilkes, by William Hogarth - NPG D13903

John Wilkes

by William Hogarth
etching, published 16 May 1763
NPG D13903

John Wilkes, by John Sebastian Miller (formerly Johann Sebastian Müller), published by  Carington Bowles - NPG D14332

John Wilkes

by John Sebastian Miller (formerly Johann Sebastian Müller), published by Carington Bowles
line engraving, published 1763
NPG D14332

John Wilkes, by James Watson, after  Robert Edge Pine - NPG D37526

John Wilkes

by James Watson, after Robert Edge Pine
mezzotint, published 1764
NPG D37526

John Wilkes, by James Wilson, after  Robert Edge Pine - NPG D8508

John Wilkes

by James Wilson, after Robert Edge Pine
mezzotint, published 1764
NPG D8508

John Wilkes, by Johann Philipp Haid, published by  Kaiserlich Franziskiche Academie - NPG D19995

John Wilkes

by Johann Philipp Haid, published by Kaiserlich Franziskiche Academie
mezzotint, 1764 or after
NPG D19995

John Wilkes ('English Liberty established or a Mirrour for Posterity'), printed for J. Lee, sold by  John Williams, sold by  J. Kingsberry - NPG D21661

John Wilkes ('English Liberty established or a Mirrour for Posterity')

printed for J. Lee, sold by John Williams, sold by J. Kingsberry
etching and line engraving, published May 1768
NPG D21661

John Wilkes, by John June - NPG D21662

John Wilkes

by John June
etching and line engraving, 1768
NPG D21662

John Wilkes, by William Dickinson, published by  S. Sledge, after  Robert Edge Pine - NPG D37523

John Wilkes

by William Dickinson, published by S. Sledge, after Robert Edge Pine
mezzotint, published 1768
NPG D37523

John Wilkes, published by Mary Darly, after  Kitchemer, after  Robert Edge Pine - NPG D37524

John Wilkes

published by Mary Darly, after Kitchemer, after Robert Edge Pine
mezzotint, published 23 May 1768
NPG D37524

John Wilkes, published by Mary Darly, after  Kitchemer, after  Robert Edge Pine - NPG D37525

John Wilkes

published by Mary Darly, after Kitchemer, after Robert Edge Pine
mezzotint, published 23 May 1768
NPG D37525

John Wilkes, by William Dickinson, after  Robert Edge Pine - NPG D4799

John Wilkes

by William Dickinson, after Robert Edge Pine
mezzotint, published 1768
NPG D4799

John Wilkes, after Unknown artist - NPG D8325

John Wilkes

after Unknown artist
line and stipple engraving, circa 1768
NPG D8325

John Wilkes, after Unknown artist - NPG D8327

John Wilkes

after Unknown artist
line and stipple engraving, circa 1768
NPG D8327

John Glynn; John Wilkes; John Horne Tooke, by Richard Houston, published by  Robert Sayer, published by  John Smith of Cheapside - NPG D37522

John Glynn; John Wilkes; John Horne Tooke

by Richard Houston, published by Robert Sayer, published by John Smith of Cheapside
mezzotint, published 1769
NPG D37522

John Wilkes, after Unknown artist - NPG D46103

John Wilkes

after Unknown artist
mezzotint, (circa 1769)
NPG D46103

John Wilkes, printed for John Smith of Cheapside, printed for  Robert Sayer - NPG D19285

John Wilkes

printed for John Smith of Cheapside, printed for Robert Sayer
mezzotint, (circa 1769)
NPG D19285

John Wilkes, by John Dixon, published by  Carington Bowles - NPG D37520

John Wilkes

by John Dixon, published by Carington Bowles
mezzotint, published 1770
NPG D37520

John Wilkes, by John Dixon, published by  Carington Bowles - NPG D18845

John Wilkes

by John Dixon, published by Carington Bowles
mezzotint, published 1770
NPG D18845

John Wilkes, by William Dickinson, after  Robert Edge Pine - NPG D4800

John Wilkes

by William Dickinson, after Robert Edge Pine
mezzotint, published 1774
NPG D4800

John Wilkes, by William Dickinson, after  Robert Edge Pine - NPG D4801

John Wilkes

by William Dickinson, after Robert Edge Pine
mezzotint, published 1774
NPG D4801

John Wilkes, by James Sayers, published by  Charles Bretherton - NPG D9984

John Wilkes

by James Sayers, published by Charles Bretherton
etching, published 17 June 1782
NPG D9984

'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

'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

'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

'Two pair of portraits', by James Gillray, published by  John Wright - NPG D12669

'Two pair of portraits'

by James Gillray, published by John Wright
hand-coloured etching and engraving, published 1 December 1798
NPG D12669

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