William Henry Ashurst
3 of 3 portraits of William Henry Ashurst
© National Portrait Gallery, London
William Henry Ashurst
by Thomas Goff Lupton, after Henry Perronet Briggs
mezzotint, published 1843
Purchased with help from the Whitin Fund, 1954
Reference Collection
NPG D7412
Sitterback to top
- William Henry Ashurst (1792-1855), Solicitor and undersheriff of London. Sitter in 3 portraits.
Artistsback to top
- Henry Perronet Briggs (1791-1844), Antiquary and subject painter. Artist or producer associated with 54 portraits.
- Thomas Goff Lupton (1791-1873), Engraver. Artist or producer associated with 131 portraits, Sitter in 1 portrait.
Events of 1843back to top
Current affairs
Sir Henry Cole commissions 1,000 copies of the first Christmas card, designed by John Callcott Horsley. Cole would later be instrumental in staging the Great Exhibition, and in developing science and art education in Britain.Nelson's statue, by E.H. Bailey, is placed on top of its column in Trafalgar Square.
Art and science
The Theatre Regulations Act is passed, abolishing the privileged position of the 'major' theatres which held letters patent from the crown, allowing all theatres to perform 'legitimate' theatre.First volume of Ruskin's Modern Painters published, praising Turner and demanding that artists should demonstrate 'truth to nature' in their work. Ruskin is a great inspiration to the Pre-Raphaelites.
International
The first experimental telegraph wire is constructed between Baltimore and Washington, using Morse code to send a message. The code, in which pulses of current deflect an electromagnet, moving a marker and producing written codes on a strip of paper, had been invented by Samuel Morse in 1838. The line officially opens in 1844.Comments back to top
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