Robert Molesworth, 1st Viscount Molesworth

1 portrait by Thomas Gibson

© National Portrait Gallery, London

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Robert Molesworth, 1st Viscount Molesworth

by Peter Pelham, sold by Edward Cooper, after Thomas Gibson
mezzotint, 1721
14 3/4 in. x 10 1/8 in. (374 mm x 258 mm) plate size; 13 7/8 in. x 9 7/8 in. (354 mm x 252 mm) paper size
Acquired, 1952
Reference Collection
NPG D38852

Sitterback to top

Artistsback to top

  • Edward Cooper (died 1725), Printseller. Artist or producer associated with 169 portraits, Sitter in 3 portraits.
  • Thomas Gibson (circa 1680-1751), Portrait painter. Artist or producer associated with 62 portraits.
  • Peter Pelham (1695?-1751), Mezzotint engraver and painter in America. Artist or producer associated with 33 portraits.

Placesback to top

Events of 1721back to top

Current affairs

Robert Walpole becomes the first British Prime Minister and holds the post for an unrivalled tenure of twenty-one years.
Former Chancellor of the Exchequer John Aislabie is imprisoned in the Tower of London and found guilty of corruption for his part in the collapse of the South Sea Company.

Art and science

Artist William Hogarth produces his first satirical engraving The South Sea Scheme in response to the South Sea Bubble of the previous year.
Writer and diplomat's wife, Lady Mary Wortley Montagu introduces the smallpox inoculation to Britain. The Princess of Wales is persuaded to test the treatment and the procedure becomes fashionable.

International

Johann Sebastian Bach writes the six Brandenburg Concertos for his employer at the court of Köthen.
Montesquieu completes his best-selling Lettres Persanes (Persian Letters); a critical view of contemporary western politics, religion and society.
Treaty of Nystad in which Sweden cedes Estonia to Russia with most of Latvia. Russia becomes the dominant regional power and Peter the Great has himself proclaimed 'Emperor of all Russia'.

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