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Isaac Watts

5 of 13 portraits of Isaac Watts

© National Portrait Gallery, London

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Isaac Watts

by George Vertue, after Unknown artist
line engraving, published 1722
Reference Collection
NPG D7582

Sitterback to top

  • Isaac Watts (1674-1748), Hymn writer. Sitter in 13 portraits.

Artistsback to top

  • Unknown artist, Artist. Artist associated with 6555 portraits.
  • George Vertue (1683-1756), Engraver and antiquary. Artist associated with 864 portraits, Sitter in 7 portraits.

Related worksback to top

Subject/Themeback to top

Events of 1722back to top

Current affairs

Atterbury Plot discovered; Francis Atterbury, Bishop of Rochester is accused of promoting the Jacobite rising. Other leading Jacobite sympathisers are also arrested and Atterbury is banished the following year.
General Election is won by the Whigs.

Art and science

Daniel Defoe publishes his novel Moll Flanders which traces the redemption of Moll, a penitent prostitute, thief and American convict.
Writer and politician Richard Steele premieres his play The Conscious Lovers at the Drury Lane Theatre, London to great acclaim.

International

In sweeping reforms aimed at modernising Russia, Peter the Great introduces the Table of Ranks; a new meritocratic order of precedence which aims to break the power of the hereditary nobility.
Dutch discover Easter Island, beginning a spate of European discovery in the islands of the Pacific.
Iroquois League of Native Americans becomes known as the Six Nations, after the Tuscarora join the group.


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