William Hazlitt
(1778-1830), Essayist, journalist and criticRegency 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.
More on William Hazlitt: The Romantic Poets and their Circle book in our Shops
replica by William Bewick
chalk, 1825
NPG 2697
by J. Hyatt, after John Hazlitt
line engraving, (circa 1813)
NPG D3242
by Charles W. Marr, published by John Templeman, after William Bewick
stipple engraving, circa 1830s (1824)
NPG D48644
by Charles W. Marr, published by Saunders & Otley, after William Bewick
stipple engraving, published 20 May 1836
NPG D38514
published by Richard Bentley, after John Hazlitt
line and stipple engraving, published 1867
NPG D13984
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