Mary Gwyn (née Horneck)
14 of 18 portraits by Walter Shropshire
© National Portrait Gallery, London
Mary Gwyn (née Horneck)
by Robert Dunkarton, published by Walter Shropshire, after Sir Joshua Reynolds
mezzotint with some hand-colouring, published 20 February 1778 (1775)
20 1/8 in. x 14 1/8 in. (512 mm x 359 mm) paper size
Purchased with help from the Whitin Fund, 1955
Reference Collection
NPG D35994
Sitterback to top
- Mary Gwyn (née Horneck) (circa 1752-1840), Goldsmith's 'Jessamy Bride'. Sitter in 8 portraits.
Artistsback to top
- Robert Dunkarton (circa 1744-circa 1815), Engraver and portrait painter. Artist or producer associated with 166 portraits.
- Sir Joshua Reynolds (1723-1792), Painter and first President of the Royal Academy. Artist or producer associated with 1425 portraits, Sitter associated with 40 portraits.
- Walter Shropshire (died 1785), Publisher. Artist or producer associated with 18 portraits.
Related worksback to top
- NPG D14571: Mary Gwyn (née Horneck) (based on same portrait)
- NPG D18006: Mary Gwyn (née Horneck) (based on same portrait)
Events of 1778back to top
Current affairs
Catholic Relief Act is the first to provide a measure of catholic emancipation, modifying the penal laws that effectively prevented Catholics from holding public office. The reform is encouraged by the Lord Chief Justice, Lord Mansfield, who had balked at various prosecutions under the statutes now repealed.Art and science
Francis D'Arblay, writing as Fanny Burney, publishes her novel Evelina, or the History of a Young Lady's Entrance into the World, in which she satirises contemporary society.Engineer Joseph Bramah invents a type of flush toilet, replacing the usual slide valve with a hinged flap that seals the bottom of the bowl.
International
American War of Independence: France, joining the American colonies in their fight against Britain, sends a large fleet across the Atlantic. The British rapidly abandon Philadelphia. The American naval hero John Paul Jones makes successful raids around the coasts of Britain.James Cook's third Pacific voyage, aboard the ships HMS Resolution and HMS Discovery, first views Oahu then Kauai in the Hawaiian Islands, which Cook names the Sandwich Islands.
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