William Sotheby

Overview
Extended Catalogue Entry

William Sotheby

by Sir Thomas Lawrence
chalk on canvas, feigned oval, circa 1807
26 in. x 21 1/2 in. (660 mm x 546 mm)
Purchased, 1955
Primary Collection
NPG 3955

Sitterback to top

William Sotheby (1757-1833), Poet and classicist. Sitter associated with 3 portraits.

Artistback to top

Sir Thomas Lawrence (1769-1830), Portrait painter, collector and President of the Royal Academy. Artist or producer associated with 689 portraits, Sitter in 25 portraits.

Related worksback to top

NPG D16138: William Sotheby (after)

Linked publicationsback to top

Saywell, David; Simon, Jacob, Complete Illustrated Catalogue, 2004, p. 576
Walker, Richard, Regency Portraits, 1985, p. 467

Subject/Themeback to top

Chalk

Events of 1807back to top

Current affairs

Act is passed abolishing the British slave trade after vigorous campaigning by hundreds of thousands of people led by Thomas Clarkson and championed in parliament by reformer William Wilberforce.
Resignation of 'Ministry of all the Talents'. Whig politician William Henry Cavendish Bentinck, Duke of Portland, succeeds as Prime Minister.

Art and science

Thomas Hope publishes Household Furniture and Interior Decoration; influential in promoting Greek and especially Egyptian models as the epitome of fashionable style.

International

French invasion of Spain and Portugal.
Britain occupies Copenhagen and captures the Danish fleet.
Napoleon begins to wage an economic battle against Britain, recognising the impossibility of victory at sea because of Britain's superior naval power. He aims to close the entire European coastline to British trade.

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