The Fourdrinier Family
- Overview
- Extended Catalogue Entry
- Buy a print
- Use this image
- Share this
The Fourdrinier Family
attributed to John Downman
oil on copper, circa 1786
18 1/8 in. x 24 1/4 in. (460 mm x 615 mm)
Purchased, 1990
Primary Collection
NPG 6091
Sittersback to top
- Charles Fourdrinier (1767-1841), Brother of Henry Fourdrinier. Sitter in 1 portrait. Identify
- Henry Fourdrinier (1730-1799), Paper maker; father of Henry Fourdrinier. Sitter in 1 portrait.
- Henry Fourdrinier (1766-1854), Inventor. Sitter in 2 portraits. Identify
- Jemima Fourdrinier (1772-1836), Sister of Henry Fourdrinier and mother of John Henry Newman. Sitter in 1 portrait. Identify
- John Rawson Fourdrinier (1770-circa 1836), Brother of Henry Fourdrinier. Sitter in 1 portrait. Identify
- Mary Fourdrinier (1728-circa 1813), Aunt of Henry Fourdrinier. Sitter in 1 portrait. Identify
- Sealy Fourdrinier (1774-1847), Paper manufacturer; brother of Henry Fourdrinier. Sitter in 1 portrait. Identify
- Minerva Manning (born 1763), Stepsister of Henry Fourdrinier. Sitter in 1 portrait. Identify
This portraitback to top
A Huguenot entrepreneur, Henry Fourdrinier senior (1730-99) is shown seated in the middle of his family with his sons Henry junior (1766-1854), in red, and Sealy (1774-1847), standing, in green. The family are probably shown in their garden in Putney with a patriotic view of Windsor Castle added in the distance. The inscribed monumental urn commemorates their deceased wife and mother, Jemima (1730-81).
Linked publicationsback to top
- Smartify image discovery app
- Ingamells, John, National Portrait Gallery: Mid-Georgian Portraits 1760-1790, 2004, p. 518
- Saywell, David; Simon, Jacob, Complete Illustrated Catalogue, 2004, p. 728
Placesback to top
- Place portrayed: United Kingdom: England, London (Putney, London)
- Place portrayed: United Kingdom: England, Berkshire (Windsor Castle, Berkshire)
Subjects & Themesback to top
Events of 1786back to top
Current affairs
Philosopher and politician Edmund Burke instigates impeachment proceedings against Warren Hastings, former Governor-General of Bengal after concerns about the moral standards of the British in India are raised.Prime Minister William Pitt appoints commissioners for the reduction of the national debt and establishes a sinking fund of £1 million a year.
Government approves the establishment of a penal colony at Botany Bay.
Art and science
Robert Burns publishes Poems Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect bringing him immediate success across the country.Engraver and publisher John Boydell initiates plans for his Shakespeare Gallery in an effort to establish a school of British history painting.
Merchant David Dale establishes New Lanark in South Lanarkshire, Scotland, as a model cotton milling community.
International
General Charles Cornwallis succeeds Warren Hastings as Governor-General in India.Composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's Marriage of Figaro premieres in Vienna.
Francisco Goya is appointed court painter to the Spanish king Charles III.
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. You can buy a print of most illustrated portraits. Select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Buy a Print button. Prices start at £6 for unframed prints, £25 for framed prints. 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.