'The Bengal levee'
1 portrait of William Pye
'The Bengal levee'
by and published by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching, published 9 November 1792
16 5/8 in. x 24 5/8 in. (423 mm x 625 mm) paper size
Purchased, 1947
Reference Collection
NPG D13079
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.
Sittersback to top
- Arthur Auchmuty (active 1792), Colonel. Sitter in 1 portrait. Identify
- Claud Benizett (active 1792). Sitter in 1 portrait. Identify
- Thomas Blanshard (died 1797), Vicar. Sitter in 1 portrait. Identify
- W.C. Blaquiere (active 1792). Sitter in 1 portrait. Identify
- Abraham Caldicott (active 1792). Sitter in 1 portrait. Identify
- King Collins (active 1792), Soldier. Sitter in 1 portrait. Identify
- Charles Cornwallis, 1st Marquess Cornwallis (1738-1805), General and diplomat. Sitter in 15 portraits. Identify
- John Fullarton (active 1792), Senior officer at the Calcutta Presidency. Sitter in 1 portrait. Identify
- John Haldane (active 1792). Sitter in 1 portrait. Identify
- Gilbert Hall (active 1792), Coroner, Calcutta. Sitter in 1 portrait. Identify
- Robert Macfarlane (active 1792), Clerk of the market, Calcutta. Sitter in 1 portrait. Identify
- John Miller (active 1792), Deputy of police, Calcutta. Sitter in 1 portrait. Identify
- Father Parthanio (active 1792), Greek priest. Sitter in 1 portrait. Identify
- William Pye (active 1792), Collector of the Twenty-four Pergunnahs. Sitter in 1 portrait. Identify
- Alexander Ross (1742-1827), Army officer. Sitter in 1 portrait. Identify
- Cudbert Thornhill (active 1792). Sitter in 1 portrait. Identify
- Edward Tiretta (active 1792). Sitter in 1 portrait. Identify
- John Williamson (active 1792), Vendor master, Calcutta. Sitter in 1 portrait. Identify
Placesback to top
- Place made: United Kingdom: England, London (Chelsea and 18 Old Bond Street, London)
Events of 1792back to top
Current affairs
The famous seven year trial of Warren Hastings, Governor-General of Bengal, on charges of embezzlement and murder, ends with his acquittal. Pro-Revolutionary philosopher Joseph Priestley's house is destroyed by a mob on the anniversary of the fall of the Bastille. Their actions are later seen as a key moment in the defeat of Enlightenment ideals in England.Art and science
Mary Wollstonecraft publishes A Vindication of the Rights of Woman; a radical work which called on women to be allies to one another; fearless in their support and free in their criticism.Sir Joshua Reynolds dies and is succeeded by Benjamin West as President of the Royal Academy.
International
The mob invades the Tuileries and the French Royal Family is imprisoned marking the end of France's experiment with constitutional monarchy and the declaration of the first French Republic.The Revolutionary Commune is established in Paris.
France declares war on Austria and then Prussia.
Comments back to top
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Caroline Wetton
25 April 2020, 22:12
The Reverend Thomas Blanshard in the East India Company, Calcutta, who was latterly appointed Senior Presidency Chaplain in 1788. After 20 years service, and having amassed a fortune equal to £3.8m in 2006 terms, he returned to England but was shipwrecked and perished off the coast of France in November 1797. He was appointed during the administration of Warren Hastings and Lord Cornwallis. Cornwallis was made Governor-General of India in 1786 and a Marquess in 1792 and held a weekly 'levee' at Government House.