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Robert Sayer

(1724 or 1725-1794), Printseller and publisher

Artist associated with 198 portraits
In 1747, Robert Sayer's elder brother James married Mary Overton, owner of the map and print business of her late husband, Philip Overton. A year later Robert Sayer acquired both her stock and her shop and began running it himself. From his London office on Fleet Street, he continued to publish the Overton stock while acquiring and expanding the business with plates from other printers, including maps, portraits, and nautical engravings. Sayer became a leading figure in the print, map and chart business; he took advantage of common production facilities and distribution channels and exploited the expanding markets in all three fields.

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Kitty Fisher, by Edward Fisher, published by  Thomas Ewart, published by  Robert Sayer, after  Sir Joshua Reynolds - NPG D1951

Kitty Fisher

by Edward Fisher, published by Thomas Ewart, published by Robert Sayer, after Sir Joshua Reynolds
mezzotint, published 17 July 1759
NPG D1951

James Wolfe, by Richard Houston, published by  Robert Sayer, after  John Stone Clifford Schaack (Shaak) - NPG D4883

James Wolfe

by Richard Houston, published by Robert Sayer, after John Stone Clifford Schaack (Shaak)
mezzotint, circa 1759-1766
NPG D4883

Laurence Sterne, by Edward Fisher, printed for  Robert Sayer, after  Sir Joshua Reynolds - NPG D21363

Laurence Sterne

by Edward Fisher, printed for Robert Sayer, after Sir Joshua Reynolds
mezzotint, (1760)
NPG D21363

Elisha Mathew (née Smith), by Charles Spooner, printed for  Robert Sayer, after  Francis Cotes - NPG D9157

Elisha Mathew (née Smith)

by Charles Spooner, printed for Robert Sayer, after Francis Cotes
mezzotint, 1760s
NPG D9157

Maria (née Walpole), Duchess of Gloucester and Edinburgh, by Richard Purcell (H. Fowler, Charles or Philip Corbutt), published by  Robert Sayer, after  Sir Joshua Reynolds - NPG D33043

Maria (née Walpole), Duchess of Gloucester and Edinburgh

by Richard Purcell (H. Fowler, Charles or Philip Corbutt), published by Robert Sayer, after Sir Joshua Reynolds
mezzotint, 1760s (probably 1760-1761)
NPG D33043

King George III, by Richard Houston, published by  Robert Sayer, published by  Elizabeth Bakewell, published by  Henry Parker, after  Henry Robert Morland - NPG D33140

King George III

by Richard Houston, published by Robert Sayer, published by Elizabeth Bakewell, published by Henry Parker, after Henry Robert Morland
mezzotint, circa 1760
NPG D33140

David Garrick ('Strive not Tragedy nor Comedy to Engross a Garrick, who to your Noblest Characters does Equal Honour'), by Richard Purcell (H. Fowler, Charles or Philip Corbutt), printed by  Robert Sayer, printed by  Carington Bowles, after  Sir Joshua Reynolds - NPG D34382

David Garrick ('Strive not Tragedy nor Comedy to Engross a Garrick, who to your Noblest Characters does Equal Honour')

by Richard Purcell (H. Fowler, Charles or Philip Corbutt), printed by Robert Sayer, printed by Carington Bowles, after Sir Joshua Reynolds
mezzotint, (1760-1761)
NPG D34382

Augustus Keppel, Viscount Keppel, by Edward Fisher, published by  Robert Sayer, and  John Bowles, and  Carington Bowles, and  Henry Parker, and  Elizabeth Bakewell, after  Sir Joshua Reynolds - NPG D36846

Augustus Keppel, Viscount Keppel

by Edward Fisher, published by Robert Sayer, and John Bowles, and Carington Bowles, and Henry Parker, and Elizabeth Bakewell, after Sir Joshua Reynolds
mezzotint, 1760 (1759)
NPG D36846

William Kingsley, by and published by Richard Houston, published by  Thomas Jefferys, published by  Robert Sayer, after  Sir Joshua Reynolds - NPG D36880

William Kingsley

by and published by Richard Houston, published by Thomas Jefferys, published by Robert Sayer, after Sir Joshua Reynolds
mezzotint, 1760 (1760)
NPG D36880

John Manners, Marquess of Granby, by Richard Purcell (H. Fowler, Charles or Philip Corbutt), printed for  Robert Sayer, after  Sir Joshua Reynolds - NPG D39974

John Manners, Marquess of Granby

by Richard Purcell (H. Fowler, Charles or Philip Corbutt), printed for Robert Sayer, after Sir Joshua Reynolds
mezzotint, 1760 (circa 1758-1760)
NPG D39974

David Garrick ('Strive not Tragedy nor Comedy to Engross a Garrick, who to your Noblest Characters does Equal Honour'), by Richard Purcell (H. Fowler, Charles or Philip Corbutt), printed for  Robert Sayer, after  Sir Joshua Reynolds - NPG D2420

David Garrick ('Strive not Tragedy nor Comedy to Engross a Garrick, who to your Noblest Characters does Equal Honour')

by Richard Purcell (H. Fowler, Charles or Philip Corbutt), printed for Robert Sayer, after Sir Joshua Reynolds
mezzotint, (1760-1761)
NPG D2420

Laurence Sterne, by Edward Fisher, printed for  Robert Sayer, after  Sir Joshua Reynolds - NPG D2980

Laurence Sterne

by Edward Fisher, printed for Robert Sayer, after Sir Joshua Reynolds
mezzotint, (1760)
NPG D2980

William Kingsley, by and published by Richard Houston, published by  Thomas Jefferys, published by  Robert Sayer, after  Sir Joshua Reynolds - NPG D3431

William Kingsley

by and published by Richard Houston, published by Thomas Jefferys, published by Robert Sayer, after Sir Joshua Reynolds
mezzotint, 1760 (1760)
NPG D3431

Lady Caroline Spencer (née Russell), Duchess of Marlborough, by Richard Purcell (H. Fowler, Charles or Philip Corbutt), published by  Robert Sayer, after  Sir Joshua Reynolds - NPG D3677

Lady Caroline Spencer (née Russell), Duchess of Marlborough

by Richard Purcell (H. Fowler, Charles or Philip Corbutt), published by Robert Sayer, after Sir Joshua Reynolds
mezzotint, 1760s (circa 1759-1762)
NPG D3677

Charles Watson-Wentworth, 2nd Marquess of Rockingham, by Richard Houston, printed for  Robert Sayer, after  Benjamin Wilson - NPG D4093

Charles Watson-Wentworth, 2nd Marquess of Rockingham

by Richard Houston, printed for Robert Sayer, after Benjamin Wilson
mezzotint, circa 1760-1775
NPG D4093

Mary Smith (née Cunliffe), by James Watson, printed for  Robert Sayer, after  Francis Cotes - NPG D4271

Mary Smith (née Cunliffe)

by James Watson, printed for Robert Sayer, after Francis Cotes
mezzotint, 1760-1790
NPG D4271

Miss Nailer (Naylor) as Hebe, published by Robert Sayer, after  Robert Edge Pine - NPG D4659

Miss Nailer (Naylor) as Hebe

published by Robert Sayer, after Robert Edge Pine
mezzotint, circa 1760-1774
NPG D4659

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