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Samuel Johnson

(1709-1784), Poet, critic and lexicographer

Mid-Georgian Portraits Catalogue Entry

Sitter associated with 50 portraits
The author of the prodigious Dictionary of the English Language (1755), Johnson gained further prestige through the publication of his new edition of Shakespeare (1765) and travel memoir A Journey to the Western Isles of Scotland (1775). Ungainly and plagued with nervous tics, he was the victim of melancholia and could not bear solitude. Johnson had an immense circle of friends, and was one of the greatest conversationalists of all time. Reynolds founded the Literary Club with him in 1764 to 'give him unlimited opportunities for talking'. James Boswell's Life, along with other biographies documented his behaviour and mannerisms in such detail that they have informed the posthumous diagnosis of Tourette syndrome.

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Samuel Johnson, by Sir Joshua Reynolds - NPG 1597

by Sir Joshua Reynolds
oil on canvas, circa 1756
On display in Room 3 on Floor 3 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG 1597

Samuel Johnson, reduced copy after Sir Joshua Reynolds - NPG 1445

reduced copy after Sir Joshua Reynolds
oil on canvas, mid 19th century, based on a work of circa 1769
NPG 1445

Samuel Johnson, by Edward Hodges Baily, after Joseph Nollekens - NPG 996

by Edward Hodges Baily, after Joseph Nollekens
marble bust, 1828, based on a work of 1777
NPG 996

Samuel Johnson, by James Barry - NPG 1185

by James Barry
oil on canvas, circa 1778-1780
NPG 1185

Samuel Johnson, after John Opie - NPG 1302

after John Opie
oil on canvas, based on a work of circa 1783-1784
NPG 1302

Samuel Johnson, by William Cumberland Cruikshank, and James Hoskins - NPG 4685

by William Cumberland Cruikshank, and James Hoskins
plaster cast of bust incorporating death-mask, 1784
NPG 4685

Samuel Johnson, by Domenico Brucciani, after William Cumberland Cruikshank, and James Hoskins - NPG 498a

by Domenico Brucciani, after William Cumberland Cruikshank, and James Hoskins
plaster cast of bust, 1878, based on a work of 1784
NPG 498a

Samuel Johnson, by Domenico Brucciani, after William Cumberland Cruikshank, and James Hoskins - NPG 498b

by Domenico Brucciani, after William Cumberland Cruikshank, and James Hoskins
plaster cast of bust, 1878, based on a work of 1784
NPG 498b

Samuel Johnson, by Sir Joseph Edgar Boehm, 1st Bt, after a painting by Sir Joshua Reynolds - NPG 621

by Sir Joseph Edgar Boehm, 1st Bt, after a painting by Sir Joshua Reynolds
painted plaster figure, 1881
NPG 621

Samuel Johnson, by James Watson, published by Robert Sayer, after Sir Joshua Reynolds - NPG D36536

by James Watson, published by Robert Sayer, after Sir Joshua Reynolds
mezzotint, (1769)
NPG D36536

Samuel Johnson, by Samuel William Reynolds, after Sir Joshua Reynolds - NPG D3176

by Samuel William Reynolds, after Sir Joshua Reynolds
mezzotint, (1769)
NPG D3176

Samuel Johnson, after Unknown artist - NPG D36532

after Unknown artist
mezzotint printed in colours, late 18th century
NPG D36532

Samuel Johnson, after Sir Joshua Reynolds - NPG D14796

after Sir Joshua Reynolds
mezzotint, (1772-1778)
NPG D14796

Samuel Johnson, by William Doughty, after Sir Joshua Reynolds - NPG D36534

by William Doughty, after Sir Joshua Reynolds
mezzotint, published late 18th century (1772-1778)
NPG D36534

Samuel Johnson ('Old wisdom blinking at the stars'), by James Gillray, published by W. Rennie - NPG D12300

Samuel Johnson ('Old wisdom blinking at the stars')

by James Gillray, published by W. Rennie
hand-coloured etching, published 10 March 1782
NPG D12300

Samuel Johnson, by Thomas Trotter, published by George Kearsley - NPG D13814

by Thomas Trotter, published by George Kearsley
etching, published 1782
NPG D13814

Samuel Johnson, by Thomas Trotter, published by George Kearsley - NPG D16750

by Thomas Trotter, published by George Kearsley
etching, published 1 February 1782
NPG D16750

Samuel Johnson ('Apollo and the muses, inflicting penance on Dr Pomposo, round Parnassus'), by James Gillray, published by William Holland - NPG D12342

Samuel Johnson ('Apollo and the muses, inflicting penance on Dr Pomposo, round Parnassus')

by James Gillray, published by William Holland
hand-coloured etching, published 29 July 1783
NPG D12342

Dr Johnson in his Travelling Dress as described in Boswell's Tour (Samuel Johnson), by Thomas Trotter, published by George Kearsley - NPG D34874

Dr Johnson in his Travelling Dress as described in Boswell's Tour (Samuel Johnson)

by Thomas Trotter, published by George Kearsley
line engraving, published 18 January 1786
NPG D34874

'The biographers', by James Sayers, published by Thomas Cornell - NPG D12243

'The biographers'

by James Sayers, published by Thomas Cornell
etching, published June 1786
NPG D12243

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Related People

Elizabeth Johnson (née Jarvis) (wife)

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Samuel Johnson in the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography

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