John Wilkes
(1725-1797), Journalist, agitator and politician; MP for Aylesbury and MiddlesexMid-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.
by Unknown artist
silver medal, 1768
NPG 1702
John Glynn, John Wilkes and John Horne Tooke
after Richard Houston
oil on canvas, based on a work of after 1769
NPG 1944
by Unknown artist
black and white chalk with grey wash on paper, 1769?
NPG 284
'John Wilkes and his daughter Polly' (Mary ('Polly') Wilkes; John Wilkes)
by Johan Joseph Zoffany
oil on canvas, exhibited 1782
On display in Room 12 on Floor 3 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG 6133
John Wilkes ('Patriotick Meteors')
after Unknown artist
line engraving, circa 1760s
NPG D8326
John Wilkes ('Malice and Fortitude')
after Unknown artist
line and stipple engraving, 1760s
NPG D8505
by William Hogarth
etching and engraving, published 1762
NPG D21366
after Unknown artist
wax impression of a seal, (1763-1768)
NPG D22618
by John Sebastian Miller (formerly Johann Sebastian Müller), published by Carington Bowles
line engraving, published 1763
NPG D37521
by William Hogarth
etching, published 16 May 1763
NPG D1362
by John Sebastian Miller (formerly Johann Sebastian Müller)
line engraving, published 1763
NPG D8329
by William Hogarth
etching, published 16 May 1763
NPG D8506
by William Hogarth
etching, published 16 May 1763
NPG D13903
by John Sebastian Miller (formerly Johann Sebastian Müller), published by Carington Bowles
line engraving, published 1763
NPG D14332
by James Watson, after Robert Edge Pine
mezzotint, published 1764
NPG D37526
by James Wilson, after Robert Edge Pine
mezzotint, published 1764
NPG D8508
by Johann Philipp Haid, published by Kaiserlich Franziskiche Academie
mezzotint, 1764 or after
NPG D19995
John Wilkes ('Mr Wilkes's address of thanks to his Electors')
by John June
etching and line engraving, 1768
NPG D21657
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
by John June
etching and line engraving, 1768
NPG D21662
by William Dickinson, published by S. Sledge, after Robert Edge Pine
mezzotint, published 1768
NPG D37523
published by Mary Darly, after Kitchemer, after Robert Edge Pine
mezzotint, published 23 May 1768
NPG D37524
published by Mary Darly, after Kitchemer, after Robert Edge Pine
mezzotint, published 23 May 1768
NPG D37525
by William Dickinson, after Robert Edge Pine
mezzotint, published 1768
NPG D4799
after Unknown artist
line and stipple engraving, circa 1768
NPG D8325
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
mezzotint, published 1769
NPG D37522
after Unknown artist
mezzotint, (circa 1769)
NPG D46103
printed for John Smith of Cheapside, printed for Robert Sayer
mezzotint, (circa 1769)
NPG D19285
by John Dixon, published by Carington Bowles
mezzotint, published 1770
NPG D37520
by John Dixon, published by Carington Bowles
mezzotint, published 1770
NPG D18845
by William Dickinson, after Robert Edge Pine
mezzotint, published 1774
NPG D4800
by William Dickinson, after Robert Edge Pine
mezzotint, published 1774
NPG D4801
by James Sayers, published by Charles Bretherton
etching, published 17 June 1782
NPG D9984
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
hand-coloured etching, published 10 May 1782
NPG D12305
by James Gillray, published by William Humphrey
hand-coloured etching, published circa June 1782
NPG D12324
by James Gillray, published by Samuel William Fores
hand-coloured etching, published 16 May 1788
NPG D12381
by James Gillray, published by Samuel William Fores
hand-coloured etching, published 4 June 1788
NPG D13065
by James Gillray, published by John Wright
hand-coloured etching and engraving, published 1 December 1798
NPG D12669
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