Sarah Siddons (née Kemble) as the Tragic Muse

© National Portrait Gallery, London

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Sarah Siddons (née Kemble) as the Tragic Muse

by Joseph Webb, published by Hannah Humphrey, after Sir Joshua Reynolds
hand-coloured mixed-method engraving, published 10 June 1798 (1783-1784)
23 5/8 in. x 15 3/4 in. (599 mm x 400 mm) paper size
Purchased with help from the Friends of the National Libraries and the Pilgrim Trust, 1966
Reference Collection
NPG D41674

Sitterback to top

Artistsback to top

  • Hannah Humphrey (circa 1745-1818), Publisher and printseller. Artist or producer associated with 720 portraits, Sitter in 1 portrait.
  • 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.
  • Joseph Webb (active 1798), Engraver. Artist or producer associated with 1 portrait.

Related worksback to top

  • NPG D14253: Sarah Siddons (née Kemble) as the Tragic Muse (based on same portrait)
  • NPG D4232: Sarah Siddons (née Kemble) as the Tragic Muse (based on same portrait)
  • NPG D9069: Sarah Siddons (née Kemble) as the Tragic Muse (based on same portrait)
  • NPG L269.B6.14: Sarah Siddons (née Kemble) as the Tragic Muse ()

Placesback to top

Events of 1798back to top

Current affairs

To meet war costs, William Pitt introduces a Finance Bill which levies income tax for the first time.

Art and science

William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge publish Lyrical Ballads; a key publication for the romantic movement in poetry. Coleridge's The Rime of the Ancient Mariner opens the volume.
Publisher and printseller Rudolph Ackermann establishes his popular 'Repository of the Arts' shop, gallery, library and social centre on the Strand.

International

Uprising of the United Irishmen: a republican rebellion which attempted to achieve Ireland's total independence by force with the aid of a French invasion. It was only narrowly defeated.
Battle of the Nile. Napoleon's visionary Egyptian campaign offers British first major victory as Nelson destroys the French fleet.

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