Isabella Molyneux (née Stanhope), Countess of Sefton

by and sold by James Watson, sold by Butler Clowes, after Sir Joshua Reynolds
mezzotint, published 20 November 1770 (1769-1770)
15 3/8 in. x 10 7/8 in. (390 mm x 277 mm) plate size; 16 3/4 in. x 11 7/8 in. (425 mm x 302 mm) paper size
Purchased with help from the Friends of the National Libraries and the Pilgrim Trust, 1966
Reference Collection
NPG D40633

Sitterback to top

Isabella Molyneux (née Stanhope), Countess of Sefton (1748-1819), Wife of 1st Earl of Sefton. Sitter associated with 9 portraits.

Artistsback to top

Butler Clowes (died 1782), Engraver and printseller. Artist associated with 9 portraits, Sitter in 1 portrait.
Sir Joshua Reynolds (1723-1792), Painter and first President of the Royal Academy. Artist associated with 1415 portraits, Sitter associated with 39 portraits.
James Watson (circa 1740-1790), Engraver. Artist associated with 193 portraits.

Related worksback to top

NPG D40634: Isabella Molyneux (née Stanhope), Countess of Sefton (from same plate)
NPG D40635: Isabella Molyneux (née Stanhope), Countess of Sefton (from same plate)

Placesback to top

Place made: United Kingdom: England, London (18 Gutter Lane, Cheapside, London)
Place made: United Kingdom: England, London (Queen Ann Street, near Titchfield Street, Oxford Road, London)

Portrait setback to top

Macdonnell Collection

Subjects & Themesback to top

Events of 1770back to top

Current affairs

Augustus FitzRoy, 3rd Duke of Grafton resigns as Prime Minister and is succeeded by Frederick North, 2nd Earl of Guilford.

Art and science

Oliver Goldsmith publishes his poem The Deserted Village.
Philosopher and politician Edmund Burke publishes Thoughts on the Cause of the Present Discontents discussing the limits of the King's authority.
17-year-old Thomas Chatterton, later hailed as a significant poet, commits suicide in a London garret.
Thomas Gainsborough paints his portrait of Jonathan Buttall, which later becomes known as The Blue Boy.

International

'Townshend duties' on imports into the colonies are repealed, except for the duty on tea. However, this concession is soon followed by the Boston Massacre, in which British troops fire into an unruly crowd in Boston, killing five.
Captain Cook reaches the eastern coast of Australia, at a place which he names Botany Bay. He discovers the Great Barrier Reef when HMS Endeavour runs onto it. Cook claims New South Wales for the British.

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