1 OF 4

The Audience of the Grand Signor (A Sultan of Turkey receiving a British Ambassador)

1 of 4 portraits by Robert Pranker

by Unknown artist, associated with Francis Smith, and Robert Pranker
watercolour and bodycolour, circa 1755-1765
20 3/8 in. x 29 3/8 in. (518 mm x 746 mm)
Bequeathed by William Agnew Moore, 1951
Primary Collection
NPG 3797

Artistsback to top

Robert Pranker (active 1761-1763), Engraver. Artist or producer associated with 4 portraits.
Francis Smith (circa 1705-circa 1779), Painter. Artist or producer associated with 2 portraits.
Unknown artist, Artist. Artist or producer associated with 6556 portraits.

Related worksback to top

NPG D18007: The Grand Signior giving Audience to the English Ambassador (source portrait)

Linked publicationsback to top

Ingamells, John, National Portrait Gallery: Mid-Georgian Portraits 1760-1790, 2004, p. 514
Saywell, David; Simon, Jacob, Complete Illustrated Catalogue, 2004, p. 719

Placesback to top

Place portrayed: Turkey

Subjects & Themesback to top

Events of 1755back to top

Current affairs

George Grenville resigns as Treasurer of the Navy and Henry Bilson Legge as Chancellor of the Exchequer in protest over payments made to Russia to protect Hanover. William Pitt the Elder is dismissed from the position of Paymaster of the Forces.

Art and science

Samuel Johnson publishes his monumental Dictionary; the first authoritative dictionary of the English language.
Methodist preacher John Wesley publishes Notes on a New Testament.

International

An earthquake nearly completely destroys Lisbon, Portugal. The event is widely discussed by European Enlightenment thinkers, inspiring Voltaire's Candide. Its intensive study leads to the birth of modern seismology and earthquake engineering.
Edward Braddock fights French and Indian troops in the Ohio valley. His army are ambushed at Fort Duquesne and he is killed; one of several encounters prior to the declaration of the Seven Years War.

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