16 OF 22

Memorial to William Shakespeare for poets' corner in Westminster Abbey

16 of 22 portraits by Andrew Miller

by Andrew Miller, after Peter Scheemakers
line engraving, 1741
15 7/8 in. x 10 1/8 in. (402 mm x 257 mm) paper size
Given by the daughter of compiler William Fleming MD, Mary Elizabeth Stopford (née Fleming), 1931
Reference Collection
NPG D27949

Sitterback to top

William Shakespeare (1564-1616), Dramatist and poet. Sitter associated with 105 portraits.

Artistsback to top

Andrew Miller (circa 1690-1763), Mezzotint engraver. Artist associated with 22 portraits.
Peter Scheemakers (1691-1781), Sculptor. Artist associated with 4 portraits, Sitter in 1 portrait.

Related worksback to top

NPG D41656: Memorial to William Shakespeare for poets' corner in Westminster Abbey (based on same portrait)

Portrait setback to top

Fleming Collection: Fleming's Granger (volume 2)

Subjects & Themesback to top

Events of 1741back to top

Current affairs

Motion of no confidence in Prime Minister Robert Walpole is followed by a general election. Walpole's majority is reduced to less than twenty and he suffers defeat in seven divisions.
Opening of the Foundling Hospital, London, to aid homeless and abandoned children.

Art and science

Lancelot 'Capability' Brown is appointed head gardener at Stowe, where he works with the architect William Kent.
Actor David Garrick makes his debut on the London stage in Richard III.
Henry Fielding publishes An Apology for the Life of Mrs. Shamela Andrews satirising Samuel Richardson's best-selling novel Pamela, or Virtue Rewarded.

International

War of the Austrian Succession: Admiral Edward Vernon leads an unsuccessful attack on Spanish stronghold of Cartagena. Frederick II's Prussian army defeats the Austrians at Mollwitz, securing his hold on most of Silesia. French and Bavarian forces enter Prague.
Composer Johann Sebastian Bach publishes his set of Goldberg Variations, supposedly written for performance by the young harpsichordist Johann Gottlieb Goldberg.

Tell us more back to top

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