(Margaret) Georgiana Spencer (née Poyntz), Countess Spencer; Georgiana Cavendish (née Spencer), Duchess of Devonshire
© National Portrait Gallery, London
(Margaret) Georgiana Spencer (née Poyntz), Countess Spencer; Georgiana Cavendish (née Spencer), Duchess of Devonshire
by P. or S. Paul (Samuel de Wilde?), after Sir Joshua Reynolds
mezzotint, published 20 June 1771 (1759-1761)
19 5/8 in. x 13 5/8 in. (500 mm x 347 mm) paper size
Purchased with help from the Friends of the National Libraries and the Pilgrim Trust, 1966
Reference Collection
NPG D41998
Sittersback to top
- Georgiana Cavendish (née Spencer), Duchess of Devonshire (1757-1806), Beauty and leader of Whig society; first wife of 5th Duke of Devonshire. Sitter in 32 portraits.
- (Margaret) Georgiana Spencer (née Poyntz), Countess Spencer (1737-1814), Philanthropist. Sitter in 7 portraits.
Artistsback to top
- P. or S. Paul (Samuel de Wilde?) (active 1770s), Etcher and mezzotinter. Artist or producer associated with 14 portraits.
- 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.
Related worksback to top
- NPG 1041: Georgiana Cavendish (née Spencer), Duchess of Devonshire (source portrait)
- NPG D9192: (Margaret) Georgiana Spencer (née Poyntz), Countess Spencer; Georgiana Cavendish (née Spencer), Duchess of Devonshire (from same plate)
- NPG D41999: (Margaret) Georgiana Spencer (née Poyntz), Countess Spencer; Georgiana Cavendish (née Spencer), Duchess of Devonshire (from same plate)
Subjects & Themesback to top
Events of 1771back to top
Current affairs
Artist Benjamin West exhibits his celebrated modern history painting The Death of Wolfe at the Royal Academy, commemorating the death of General James Wolfe at the 1759 Battle of Quebec during the Seven Years' War. The painting creates a sensation and George III commissions a copy.Reporting of parliamentary debates is permitted.
Art and science
Richard Arkwright begins to develop cotton mills at Cromford in the Derwent Valley, Derbyshire; one of the earliest factory complexes.Botanist James Robertson makes the first recorded ascent of Ben Nevis.
Encyclopedia Britannica is completed with 2,931 pages.
First recorded cricket match is played in Horsham, West Sussex.
International
First voyage of James Cook ends. HMS Endeavour anchors in the port of Deal, Kent following its three-year global circumnavigation.Spain cedes the Falkland Islands to Britain.
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