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A Political Fair

10 of 21 portraits of Britannia

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A Political Fair

by Charles Williams, published by Thomas Tegg, after George Murgatroyd ('Moutard') Woodward
hand-coloured etching, published 1 October 1807
9 1/4 in. x 13 3/8 in. (235 mm x 341 mm) paper size
Purchased, 2018
Reference Collection
NPG D48635

Sittersback to top

  • Britannia, Allegory of a nation, emblem of empire, and patriotic icon. Sitter associated with 21 portraits.
  • John Bull (active 1712-present), Fictitious epitomist of Englishness and British imperialism. Sitter associated with 147 portraits.
  • Napoléon Bonaparte (1769-1821), Emperor of France 1804-14. Sitter associated with 89 portraits.

Artistsback to top

Placesback to top

Subjects & Themesback to top

Events of 1807back to top

Current affairs

Act is passed abolishing the British slave trade after vigorous campaigning by hundreds of thousands of people led by Thomas Clarkson and championed in parliament by reformer William Wilberforce.
Resignation of 'Ministry of all the Talents'. Whig politician William Henry Cavendish Bentinck, Duke of Portland, succeeds as Prime Minister.

Art and science

Thomas Hope publishes Household Furniture and Interior Decoration; influential in promoting Greek and especially Egyptian models as the epitome of fashionable style.

International

French invasion of Spain and Portugal.
Britain occupies Copenhagen and captures the Danish fleet.
Napoleon begins to wage an economic battle against Britain, recognising the impossibility of victory at sea because of Britain's superior naval power. He aims to close the entire European coastline to British trade.

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