George Spencer-Churchill, 5th Duke of Marlborough ('The inexpressible air of dignity, - ')
2 of 4 portraits of George Spencer-Churchill, 5th Duke of Marlborough
© National Portrait Gallery, London
George Spencer-Churchill, 5th Duke of Marlborough ('The inexpressible air of dignity, - ')
by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured stipple engraving, published 9 March 1803
9 3/4 in. x 7 3/4 in. (248 mm x 198 mm) plate size; 11 3/4 in. x 9 1/8 in. (300 mm x 231 mm) paper size
Purchased, 1947
Reference Collection
NPG D12802
Sitterback to top
- George Spencer-Churchill, 5th Duke of Marlborough (1766-1840), Politician and book collector. Sitter in 4 portraits.
Artistsback to top
- James Gillray (1756-1815), Caricaturist. Artist or producer associated with 887 portraits, Sitter in 7 portraits.
- Hannah Humphrey (circa 1745-1818), Publisher and printseller. Artist or producer associated with 720 portraits, Sitter in 1 portrait.
Related worksback to top
- NPG D14920: George Spencer-Churchill, 5th Duke of Marlborough ('The inexpressible air of dignity, - ') (from same plate)
Events of 1803back to top
Current affairs
The Vice Society is formally established by John Reeves and his associates to campaign against blasphemy and immorality, particularly that perpetrated by Thomas Paine and the Edinburgh Review.Art and science
Erasmus Darwin's Temple of Nature published posthumously. A scientific treaty in the form of an elaborate couplet poem, its content anticipated some of the evolutionary ideas developed by his grandson, Charles Darwin, fifty years later.Construction of the Caledonian Canal begins.
International
War with France resumes, sparking new fears of a cross-channel invasion.United Irishman, Robert Emmett's attempted uprising in Dublin. Planned to coincide with Napoleon's expected invasion, it aimed to overthrow the English administration but ended in failure. Emmett is hanged along with several other conspirators.
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