'Alas! Poor Johnny!' (Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington; John Bull)
'Alas! Poor Johnny!' (Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington; John Bull)
by William Heath, published by George Humphrey
hand-coloured etching, published 8 February 1828
9 3/4 in. x 13 3/4 in. (247 mm x 350 mm) plate size; 12 in. x 17 3/8 in. (304 mm x 442 mm) paper size
Bequeathed by Sir Edward Dillon Lott du Cann, 2018
Reference Collection
NPG D48714
Sittersback to top
- John Bull (active 1712-present), Fictitious epitomist of Englishness and British imperialism. Sitter associated with 151 portraits. Identify
- Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington (1769-1852), Field Marshal and Prime Minister. Sitter associated with 640 portraits. Identify
Artistsback to top
- William Heath (1795-1840), Printmaker and caricaturist. Artist or producer associated with 103 portraits, Sitter in 1 portrait.
- George Humphrey (active 1783-1831), Publisher and printseller; nephew of Hannah Humphrey. Artist or producer associated with 88 portraits, Sitter associated with 1 portrait.
Subjects & Themesback to top
Events of 1828back to top
Current affairs
Duke of Wellington becomes Prime Minister.Madhouse Act attempts to regulate asylums and ensure new arrivals are genuinely insane.
Repeal of the Test Acts removes political restrictions from dissenters, allowing them to hold public office.
Art and science
London Zoological Gardens open in Regent's Park. They provide both entertainment and a supply of exotic specimens for naturalists and anatomists such as Richard Owen who becomes a European authority on the subject.International
Daniel O'Connell is elected Member of Parliament for County Clare but as a Catholic is not permitted to take his seat.Comments back to top
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