John Bannister
(1760-1836), Comedian and actorRegency Portraits Catalogue Entry
Sitter in 15 portraits
Jack (John) Bannister had been a student at the Royal Academy Schools before making his acting debut in 1778. He remained a close friend of his fellow student, the caricaturist Thomas Rowlandson, throughout his life. He found success with the part of Don Ferolo Whiskerandos in Richard Brinsley Sheridan's The Critic (1779) and made a reputation for himself as a popular light comedian with a good singing voice. He was particularly associated with the summer seasons at the Haymarket Theatre and married the company's principal singer, Elizabeth Harper, in 1783.
John Bannister as Scout, William Parsons as Sheepface in Colman's 'The Village Lawyer'
by and published by John Raphael Smith, after Samuel De Wilde
mezzotint, published 1st July 1796
On display in Room 11 on Floor 3 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG L269.B7.25
by John Russell
pastel, 1799
NPG 1769
by George Dance
pencil, 1800
NPG 1136
John Bannister as Dick in Arthur Murphy's 'The Apprentice'
by Edward Scriven, published by John Cawthorn, after Samuel De Wilde
stipple, published 14th October 1805
On display in Room 11 on Floor 3 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG L269.B8.49
John Bannister as Ben in Congreve's 'Love for Love'
published by Charles Cooke, after Samuel De Wilde
etching, published 13th September 1806
On display in Room 11 on Floor 3 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG L269.B7.30
by and published by John Raphael Smith, after Mather Brown
mezzotint, published 12th October 1787
NPG D622
by John Raphael Smith, after Mather Brown
mezzotint, published 1787
NPG D7512
John Bannister as Gradias in Mrs Cowley's 'Who's the Dupe'
by Edward Bell, after Samuel De Wilde
mezzotint, published 1794
NPG D7511
John Bannister as Scout and William Parsons as Sheeplace in 'The Village Lawyer'
by John Raphael Smith, after Samuel De Wilde
mezzotint, published 1796
NPG D7509
by James Heath, published by Darling & Thompson, and Thomas Simpson, after Richard Westall
hand-coloured stipple, published 1 May 1797
NPG D49732
possibly after George Clint
mezzotint, early 19th century
NPG D7510
by William Daniell, after George Dance
soft-ground etching, (May 1800)
NPG D15044
published by James Cundee, after John Opie, and after Unknown artist
stipple engraving, published 1 July 1807
NPG D45904
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