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William Hazlitt

(1778-1830), Essayist, journalist and critic

Regency Portraits Catalogue Entry

Sitter in 5 portraits
Artist of 1 portrait
Political journalist and critic, Hazlitt became the radical conscience of Romanticism. He trained firstly for the Dissenting ministry and then as a portrait painter before a meeting with Coleridge and Wordsworth inspired him to become a writer. He wrote with equal vitality and insight on theatre, boxing, politics, poetry and travel. His major publications include The Character of Shakespeare's Plays (1817), Political Essays (1819) and The Spirit of the Age (1825). He was (unhappily) married twice, suffered unrequited love for a servant girl, and died in poverty while labouring over an immense biography of his hero Napoleon.

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William Hazlitt, replica by William Bewick - NPG 2697

William Hazlitt

replica by William Bewick
chalk, 1825
NPG 2697

William Hazlitt, by J. Hyatt, after John Hazlitt - NPG D3242

William Hazlitt

by J. Hyatt, after John Hazlitt
line engraving, (circa 1813)
NPG D3242

William Hazlitt, by Charles W. Marr, published by John Templeman, after William Bewick - NPG D48644

William Hazlitt

by Charles W. Marr, published by John Templeman, after William Bewick
stipple engraving, circa 1830s (1824)
NPG D48644

William Hazlitt, by Charles W. Marr, published by Saunders & Otley, after William Bewick - NPG D38514

William Hazlitt

by Charles W. Marr, published by Saunders & Otley, after William Bewick
stipple engraving, published 20 May 1836
NPG D38514

William Hazlitt, published by Richard Bentley, after John Hazlitt - NPG D13984

William Hazlitt

published by Richard Bentley, after John Hazlitt
line and stipple engraving, published 1867
NPG D13984

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