Edmond Malone

© National Portrait Gallery, London

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Edmond Malone

by Sir Joshua Reynolds
oil on canvas, 1778 and circa 1788
29 1/2 in. x 24 1/2 in. (749 mm x 622 mm)
Given by Sir William Agnew, 1st Bt, 1883
Primary Collection
NPG 709

Sitterback to top

  • Edmond Malone (1741-1812), Critic and editor of Shakespeare. Sitter in 4 portraits.

Artistback to top

  • Sir Joshua Reynolds (1723-1792), Painter and first President of the Royal Academy. Artist or producer associated with 1424 portraits, Sitter associated with 39 portraits.

This portraitback to top

X-ray analysis of the lower half of the portrait suggests that Malone was originally depicted holding a book. This suggests that this portrait was, in a previous state, that seen in the Bartolozzi engraving of 16 May 1787 in which Malone is shown holding a copy of Old Worthies, Vol.IV.

Linked publicationsback to top

Events of 1778back to top

Current affairs

Catholic Relief Act is the first to provide a measure of catholic emancipation, modifying the penal laws that effectively prevented Catholics from holding public office. The reform is encouraged by the Lord Chief Justice, Lord Mansfield, who had balked at various prosecutions under the statutes now repealed.

Art and science

Francis D'Arblay, writing as Fanny Burney, publishes her novel Evelina, or the History of a Young Lady's Entrance into the World, in which she satirises contemporary society.
Engineer Joseph Bramah invents a type of flush toilet, replacing the usual slide valve with a hinged flap that seals the bottom of the bowl.

International

American War of Independence: France, joining the American colonies in their fight against Britain, sends a large fleet across the Atlantic. The British rapidly abandon Philadelphia. The American naval hero John Paul Jones makes successful raids around the coasts of Britain.
James Cook's third Pacific voyage, aboard the ships HMS Resolution and HMS Discovery, first views Oahu then Kauai in the Hawaiian Islands, which Cook names the Sandwich Islands.

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