William Congreve

William Congreve, studio of Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt, circa 1709 - NPG 67 - © National Portrait Gallery, London

© National Portrait Gallery, London

  • Larger Image
  • Image zoom
  • Buy a print
  • Use this image
  • ShareShare this

William Congreve

studio of Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
oil on canvas, circa 1709
30 in. x 24 1/2 in. (762 mm x 622 mm)
Purchased, 1859
Primary Collection
NPG 67

Sitterback to top

Artistback to top

  • Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt (1646-1723), Portrait painter. Artist associated with 1683 portraits, Sitter associated with 30 portraits.

Related worksback to top

  • NPG 3199: William Congreve (source portrait)

Linked publicationsback to top

  • Ingamells, John, Later Stuart Portraits 1685-1714, 2009, p. 54
  • Piper, David, Catalogue of Seventeenth Century Portraits in the National Portrait Gallery, 1625-1714, 1963, p. 81
  • Saywell, David; Simon, Jacob, Complete Illustrated Catalogue, 2004, p. 139

Subjects & Themesback to top

Events of 1709back to top

Current affairs

Political struggle develops between the Whigs and Queen Anne over the succession to the post of Lord High Admiral following the death of the queen's consort, Prince George. The Whig, Robert Walpole, Earl of Orford, eventually wins the post.
Unusually cold winter in England and across Europe.

Art and science

Publisher and secretary of the Kit-cat Club, Jacob Tonson, senior and poet John Dryden, include Alexander Pope's first publication, his poem, Pastorals, in the sixth edition of their Miscellany Poems.
Dramatist, Nicholas Rowe, edits the first modern edition of Shakespeare's plays.
The Tatler is founded by essayist Sir Richard Steele.

International

Ambassador to The Hague, Charles Townshend, Viscount Townshend, negotiates the barrier treaty with Holland, guaranteeing provision of fortresses in the Southern Netherlands and safeguarding the Hanoverian succession in England. Townshend also enters serious negotiations for peace with France.
Battle of Malplaquet results in stalemate between the warring factions.


Tell us more back to top

Can you tell us more about this portrait? Spotted an error, information that is missing (a sitter’s life dates, occupation or family relationships, or a date of portrait for example) or do you know anything that we don't know? If you have information to share please complete the form below.

If you require information from us, please use our Archive enquiry service. If you wish to license this image, please use our Rights and Images service.

Please note that we cannot provide valuations.

We digitise over 8,000 portraits a year and we cannot guarantee being able to digitise images that are not already scheduled.

What can you tell us?close

There are occasions when we are unsure of the identity of a sitter or artist, their life dates, occupation or have not recorded their family relationships. Sometimes we have not recorded the date of a portrait. Do you have specialist knowledge or a particular interest about any aspect of the portrait or sitter or artist that you can share with us? We would welcome any information that adds to and enhances our information and understanding about a particular portrait, sitter or artist.

Citationclose

How do you know this? Please could you let us know your source of information.

* Permission to publish (Privacy information)
Privacy Informationclose

The National Portrait Gallery will NOT use your information to contact you or store for any other purpose than to investigate or display your contribution. By ticking permission to publish you are indicating your agreement for your contribution to be shown on this collection item page. Please note your email address will not be displayed on the page nor will it be used for any marketing material or promotion of any kind.

Please ensure your comments are relevant and appropriate. Your contributions must be polite and with no intention of causing trouble. All contributions are moderated.

Your Emailclose

Contributions are moderated. We'll need your email address so that we can follow up on the information provided and contact you to let you know when your contribution has been published.