6 OF 8

William Pitt

6 of 8 portraits by Thomas Gaugain

William Pitt

by Thomas Gaugain, published by Edward Orme, after Thomas Gainsborough
stipple engraving, published 4 June 1805
27 in. x 20 in. (685 mm x 509 mm) paper size
Purchased, 1940
Reference Collection
NPG D40243

Sitterback to top

William Pitt (1759-1806), Prime Minister. Sitter associated with 174 portraits.

Artistsback to top

Thomas Gainsborough (1727-1788), Portrait and landscape painter. Artist or producer associated with 264 portraits, Sitter in 8 portraits.
Thomas Gaugain (1756?-1810?), Engraver and painter. Artist or producer associated with 8 portraits.
Edward Orme (1775-1848), Engraver, printseller and property developer. Artist or producer associated with 36 portraits.

Placesback to top

Place made: United Kingdom: England, London (59 Bond Street, London)

Subject/Themeback to top

Stipple engraving

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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