1 OF 26 
Unknown man, formerly known as Matthew Prior
1 of 26 portraits of Matthew Prior
- Overview
- Extended Catalogue Entry
© National Portrait Gallery, London
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Unknown man, formerly known as Matthew Prior
attributed to Michael Dahl
oil on canvas, 1713
30 in. x 25 in. (762 mm x 635 mm) oval
Purchased, 1949
Primary Collection
NPG 3682
Sitterback to top
- Matthew Prior (1664-1721), Poet, Ambassador to France and politician; MP for East Grinstead and Chief Secretary for Ireland. Sitter associated with 26 portraits.
Artistback to top
- Michael Dahl (1659-1743), Portrait painter. Artist or producer associated with 166 portraits, Sitter in 2 portraits.
Linked publicationsback to top
- Ingamells, John, Later Stuart Portraits 1685-1714, 2009, p. 226
- Saywell, David; Simon, Jacob, Complete Illustrated Catalogue, 2004, p. 697
Events of 1713back to top
Current affairs
An ailing Queen Anne is unable to attend a thanksgiving ceremony at St. Paul's in July to celebrate the treaty of Utrecht, attended by both Houses of Parliament in full state.John Churchill, Duke of Marlborough, on self-imposed exile on the continent, is joined by his wife, Sarah Churchill.
Art and science
Literary fraternity, the Scriblerus Club is founded. Consisting of satirists, including Jonathan Swift, Alexander Pope and Thomas Parnell, the club ridiculed current trends in scholarship and culture through the fictitious literary character, Martinus Scriblerus.Joseph Addison's play, Cato, premieres at Drury Lane and becomes an immediate success.
International
Treaty of Utrecht, principally conceived by Robert Harley, Earl of Oxford and Henry, St. John, Viscount Bolingbroke, ends the War of the Spanish Succession against France. The accord establishes Bourbon, Philip d'Anjou, on the Spanish throne, with provisos, and forces Louis XIV to recognise a Hanoverian succession in Britain.Tell us more back to top
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