'Poets and Philosophers of England'

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© National Portrait Gallery, London

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'Poets and Philosophers of England'

by John Simon
mezzotint, mid 18th century
13 7/8 in. x 9 7/8 in. (353 mm x 252 mm) plate size; 14 7/8 in. x 11 1/8 in. (377 mm x 282 mm) paper size
Purchased, 1890
Reference Collection
NPG D41665

Sittersback to top

Artistback to top

  • John Simon (1675-1751), Mezzotint engraver. Artist or producer associated with 213 portraits.

Related worksback to top

  • NPG D3192: 'Poets and Philosophers of England' (from same plate)

Events of 1727back to top

Current affairs

George I dies on 11 January. George II is proclaimed king; the second Hanoverian on the British throne. Handel composes Zadok the Priest for his coronation which has been sung at every British coronation since.
Royal Bank of Scotland is founded by Royal Charter in Edinburgh.
Janet (Jenny) Horne of Loth, Sutherland, becomes the last alleged witch to be executed in Britain when she is burned at the stake in Dornoch, Scotland.

Art and science

Artist Thomas Gainsborough is born in Sudbury, Suffolk in May.
Architect William Kent publishes Some Designs of Mr Inigo Jones, including additional designs by himself and his patron Lord Burlington.German composer George Frideric Handel becomes a British subject.
Scientist Sir Isaac Newton dies.

International

Composer Johann Sebastian Bach conducts the first performance of his St Matthew Passion in St Thomas's church, Leipzig.
Spain besieges Gibraltar in order to recapture the territory from the British.

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