Political Quadrille - the Game Up
9 of 23 portraits by Charles Williams
© National Portrait Gallery, London
Political Quadrille - the Game Up
by Charles Williams, published by Elizabeth Walker
hand-coloured etching, published August 1808
12 3/4 in. x 15 1/4 in. (324 mm x 387 mm) plate size; 13 1/8 in. x 17 in. (334 mm x 431 mm) paper size
Bequeathed by Sir Edward Dillon Lott du Cann, 2018
Reference Collection
NPG D48870
Artistsback to top
- Elizabeth Walker (active 1791-1817), Printseller and publisher. Artist or producer associated with 4 portraits.
- Charles Williams (active 1797-1830), Etcher. Artist or producer associated with 23 portraits.
Sittersback to top
- Alexander I, Tsar of Russia (1777-1825), Reigned 1801-25. Sitter in 6 portraits.
- Francis I, Emperor of Austria (1792-1835), Reigned 1806-35. Sitter associated with 10 portraits.
- Frederick William III, King of Prussia (1770-1840), Reigned 1797-1840. Sitter in 11 portraits.
- King George III (1738-1820), Reigned 1760-1820. Sitter associated with 194 portraits.
- Napoléon Bonaparte (1769-1821), Emperor of France 1804-14. Sitter associated with 91 portraits.
- Pope Pius VII (Luigi Barnaba Chiaramonti) (1740-1823), Pope 1800-23. Sitter in 7 portraits.
Events of 1808back to top
Current affairs
The 'Mary Anne Clarke affair' erupts in which Clarke, mistress of Frederick, Duke of York, was said to have used her influence with him to run a military promotions racket. Championed by radical government opponents, it ends in the Duke's resignation as Commander-in-Chief of the army.Art and science
Sculptor John Flaxman begins Nelson memorial for St Paul's.Richard Trevithick demonstrates model railway travelling at 12 mph.
International
After taking Portugal, Napoleon invades Spain, deposes the Spanish Bourbon monarchy and appoints his brother Joseph as the new King. ThePeninsular War then begins under Sir John Moore and Arthur Wellesley, later Duke of Wellington, aiming to protect Portugal and exploit Iberian hatred of French tyranny.
Comments back to top
We are currently unable to accept new comments, but any past comments are available to read below.
If you need information from us, please use our Archive enquiry service . Please note that we cannot provide valuations. You can buy a print or greeting card of most illustrated portraits. Select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Buy a Print button. Prices start at around £6 for unframed prints, £16 for framed prints. If you wish to license an image, select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Use this image button, or contact our Rights and Images service. We digitise over 8,000 portraits a year and we cannot guarantee being able to digitise images that are not already scheduled.