Arthur Murphy

Overview
Extended Catalogue Entry

Arthur Murphy

by Nathaniel Dance (later Sir Nathaniel Holland, Bt)
oil on canvas, 1777
50 in. x 40 in. (1270 mm x 1016 mm)
Purchased, 1857
Primary Collection
NPG 10

Sitterback to top

Arthur Murphy (1727-1805), Writer and actor. Sitter in 7 portraits.

Artistback to top

Nathaniel Dance (later Sir Nathaniel Holland, Bt) (1735-1811), Painter. Artist or producer associated with 62 portraits, Sitter in 1 portrait.

Related worksback to top

NPG D39100: Arthur Murphy (source portrait)
NPG D39101: Arthur Murphy (source portrait)
NPG D39102: Arthur Murphy (source portrait)

Linked publicationsback to top

Cullen, Fintan, The Irish Face: Redefining the Irish Portrait, 2004, p. 44
Ingamells, John, National Portrait Gallery: Mid-Georgian Portraits 1760-1790, 2004, p. 355
John Cooper, National Portrait Gallery Visitor's Guide, 2006, p. 163
Saywell, David; Simon, Jacob, Complete Illustrated Catalogue, 2004, p. 450
Uglow, Jenny, Character Sketches: Dr Johnson, His Club and Other Friends, 1998, p. 40

Subjects & Themesback to top

Events of 1777back to top

Current affairs

Trent and Mersey Canal is completed under the supervision of engineer James Brindley.
Philanthropist and reformer John Howard publishes his study The State of the Prisons in England and Wales.

Art and science

Artist James Barry begins his monumental series of paintings The Progress of Human Culture for the Great Room of the Society of Arts in London. He completes it in 1783.
Richard Brinsley Sheridan's second play, The School for Scandal, is an immediate success in London's Drury Lane Theatre.
Entrepreneur William Bass establishes the Bass Brewery at Burton upon Trent.

International

American War of Independence: George Washington, heavily defeated at the Battle of Brandywine, is forced to relinquish Philadelphia to the British under General William Howe. At the two Battles of Saratoga only weeks later General John Burgoyne is forced to surrender to the Americans, marking a turning point in the war. The Continental Congress agrees the final version of the Articles of Confederation, defining the terms on which states join the Union.

Tell us more back to top

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