Maria (née Gunning), Countess of Coventry
30 of 40 portraits by Katharine Read
© National Portrait Gallery, London
Maria (née Gunning), Countess of Coventry
by John Finlayson, after Katharine Read
mezzotint, published 15 May 1771
19 5/8 in. x 13 7/8 in. (500 mm x 352 mm) plate size; 21 1/4 in. x 16 1/8 in. (540 mm x 410 mm) paper size
Given by the daughter of compiler William Fleming MD, Mary Elizabeth Stopford (née Fleming), 1931
Reference Collection
NPG D34185
Sitterback to top
- Maria (née Gunning), Countess of Coventry (1733-1760), Famous beauty, society hostess and first wife of 6th Earl of Coventry. Sitter in 15 portraits.
Artistsback to top
- John Finlayson (circa 1730-circa 1776), Mezzotinter, draughtsman and painter. Artist or producer associated with 26 portraits.
- Katharine Read (1723-1778), Portrait painter. Artist or producer associated with 40 portraits.
Subjects & Themesback to top
Events of 1771back to top
Current affairs
Artist Benjamin West exhibits his celebrated modern history painting The Death of Wolfe at the Royal Academy, commemorating the death of General James Wolfe at the 1759 Battle of Quebec during the Seven Years' War. The painting creates a sensation and George III commissions a copy.Reporting of parliamentary debates is permitted.
Art and science
Richard Arkwright begins to develop cotton mills at Cromford in the Derwent Valley, Derbyshire; one of the earliest factory complexes.Botanist James Robertson makes the first recorded ascent of Ben Nevis.
Encyclopedia Britannica is completed with 2,931 pages.
First recorded cricket match is played in Horsham, West Sussex.
International
First voyage of James Cook ends. HMS Endeavour anchors in the port of Deal, Kent following its three-year global circumnavigation.Spain cedes the Falkland Islands to Britain.
Comments back to top
We are currently unable to accept new comments, but any past comments are available to read below.
If you need information from us, please use our Archive enquiry service . Please note that we cannot provide valuations. You can buy a print or greeting card of most illustrated portraits. Select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Buy a Print button. Prices start at around £6 for unframed prints, £16 for framed prints. If you wish to license an image, select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Use this image button, or contact our Rights and Images service. We digitise over 8,000 portraits a year and we cannot guarantee being able to digitise images that are not already scheduled.