John Wesley
(1703-1791), Methodist leaderEarly Georgian Portraits Catalogue Entry
Sitter in 30 portraits
Wesley was the founder of Methodism. This evangelical movement grew from the 'Holy Club' of his Oxford friends, in the late 1720s, into the most influential religious group in eighteenth-century Britain. A Church of England clergyman, Wesley gave sermons around the country, averaging 8,000 miles a year on horseback, and wrote hundreds of hymns and tracts. The reluctance of the Anglican clergy to lend him their pulpits led him, urged on by fellow clergyman George Whitefield, to preach in the open air. This unorthodox decision ensured Methodism reached the masses as well as people who were alienated by the Church's complacency. He was the brother of Charles and uncle of Samuel.
by Nathaniel Hone
oil on canvas, circa 1766
On display in Room 11 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG 135
by William Hamilton
oil on canvas, 1788
On display at Wesley's Chapel and Leysian Mission, London
NPG 317
after George Romney
oil on canvas, based on a work of circa 1789
NPG 2366
attributed to Samuel Manning Sr, or Samuel Manning Jr
marble bust, circa 1825-1851
NPG 271
by Unknown artist
engraving, after 1727
NPG D37682
by John Faber Jr, published by and after John Michael Williams
mezzotint, published 10 September 1743
NPG D19399
by James Watson, printed for Robert Sayer, after J. Williams
mezzotint, published circa 1745-1794
NPG D4741
by James Watson, printed by Robert Sayer, after J. Williams
mezzotint, published circa 1745-1794
NPG D14216
by George Vertue, after John Michael Williams
engraving, 1746
NPG D37652
printed and sold by John Tinney
mezzotint, before 1761
NPG D37683
by Bland, after Nathaniel Hone
line engraving, circa 1766
NPG D16939
after Nathaniel Hone
mezzotint, published 1770
NPG D4740
by John Greenwood, after Nathaniel Hone
mezzotint, published 20 December 1770 (circa 1766)
NPG D8305
by James Fittler, published by James Milbourne, published by John Brydon, after William Hamilton
line engraving, published November 1788 (1788)
NPG D37684
by James Fittler, published by James Milbourne, published by John Brydon, after William Hamilton
line engraving, published November 1788 (1788)
NPG D37685
by William Nelson Gardiner, published by Edward Harding, after Silvester (Sylvester) Harding
stipple engraving, published 10 March 1788
NPG D2978
James Hamilton; John Wesley; Joseph Cole
by Consitt & Goodwill, after John Kay
line engraving, (1790)
NPG D16248
by Thomas Holloway
line engraving, published 1791
NPG D8303
after John Jackson
stipple and line engraving, circa 1791-1830
NPG D8306
after John Jackson
stipple and line engraving, circa 1791-1830
NPG D8307
Links
- Blue plaque, 47 City Road, Islington, London EC1Y 1AU
- Epworth Old Rectory, Doncaster, South Yorkshire
- Ireshopeburn, Weardale, County Durham
- John Wesley in the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
- John Wesley's House & The Museum of Methodism, London
- The Wesley Historical Society
- Wesley's Chapel Museum of Methodism and John Wesley's House, London
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