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Richard Willis

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Richard Willis

by John Simon, sold by Edward Cooper, after Michael Dahl
mezzotint, 1721-1723
15 3/4 in. x 10 5/8 in. (399 mm x 270 mm) paper size
acquired
Reference Collection
NPG D42167

Sitterback to top

  • Richard Willis (baptised 1664-1734), Bishop of Winchester. Sitter in 2 portraits.

Artistsback to top

  • Edward Cooper (died 1725), Printseller. Artist associated with 169 portraits, Sitter in 3 portraits.
  • Michael Dahl (1659-1743), Portrait painter. Artist associated with 166 portraits, Sitter in 2 portraits.
  • John Simon (1675-1751), Mezzotint engraver. Artist associated with 213 portraits.

Related worksback to top

Placesback to top

Subjects & Themesback to top

Events of 1721back to top

Current affairs

Robert Walpole becomes the first British Prime Minister and holds the post for an unrivalled tenure of twenty-one years.
Former Chancellor of the Exchequer John Aislabie is imprisoned in the Tower of London and found guilty of corruption for his part in the collapse of the South Sea Company.

Art and science

Artist William Hogarth produces his first satirical engraving The South Sea Scheme in response to the South Sea Bubble of the previous year.
Writer and diplomat's wife, Lady Mary Wortley Montagu introduces the smallpox inoculation to Britain. The Princess of Wales is persuaded to test the treatment and the procedure becomes fashionable.

International

Johann Sebastian Bach writes the six Brandenburg Concertos for his employer at the court of Köthen.
Montesquieu completes his best-selling Lettres Persanes (Persian Letters); a critical view of contemporary western politics, religion and society.
Treaty of Nystad in which Sweden cedes Estonia to Russia with most of Latvia. Russia becomes the dominant regional power and Peter the Great has himself proclaimed 'Emperor of all Russia'.

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