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Joseph Townsend with 'View of the Escurial by Moon Light'

2 of 3 portraits of Joseph Townsend

© National Portrait Gallery, London

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Joseph Townsend with 'View of the Escurial by Moon Light'

by William Holl Sr, after John Opie, and by Thomas Milton, after John Townsend, published by Robert John Thornton
stipple engraving and etching, published December 1805
18 3/4 in. x 12 7/8 in. (475 mm x 328 mm) paper size
acquired unknown source, 1964
Reference Collection
NPG D34350

Sitterback to top

Artistsback to top

  • William Holl Sr (1771-1838), Engraver. Artist associated with 127 portraits, Sitter in 1 portrait.
  • Thomas Milton (1742 or 1743-1827), Printmaker and topographical draughtsman. Artist associated with 9 portraits.
  • John Opie (1761-1807), Portrait and history painter. Artist associated with 148 portraits, Sitter in 13 portraits.
  • Robert John Thornton (1768-1837), Physician, writer on botany and publisher. Artist associated with 48 portraits, Sitter in 2 portraits.
  • John Townsend (active 1776-1778). Artist associated with 4 portraits.

Related worksback to top

  • NPG D40067: Joseph Townsend with 'View of the Escurial by Moon Light' (from same plate)

Placesback to top

Portrait setback to top

Subjects & Themesback to top

Events of 1805back to top

Current affairs

Nelson's state funeral is held at St Paul's. An occasion for an outpouring of national grief and patriotism, the grand ceremony built on the cult of Nelson which had emerged in the years before his death.

Art and science

Mary Tighe publishes Pysche or the Legend of Love, a romantic allegory in the fashionable medieval revival style, admired by both Keats and Shelley.
The 'poems of Ossian' are officially declared a fake and a great literary scandal ends as Scottish poet James Macpherson is exposed as the forger of the third century bard's epic works.

International

Battle of Trafalgar. Napoleon's ultimate plan to invade England from Boulogne with 100,000 men is thwarted by superior British naval power. Nelson dies in the closing moments of battle having been wounded by a French sniper, but survives long enough to learn that a decisive victory has been won.

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