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Geoffrey Chaucer

© National Portrait Gallery, London

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Geoffrey Chaucer

by James Thomson (Thompson), published by Charles Knight
line engraving, published circa 1833
11 in. x 8 in. (280 mm x 204 mm) plate size; 11 5/8 in. x 8 1/2 in. (294 mm x 217 mm) paper size
Bequeathed by (Frederick) Leverton Harris, 1927
Reference Collection
NPG D14532

Sitterback to top

Artistsback to top

  • Charles Knight (1791-1873), Writer and publisher. Artist associated with 9 portraits, Sitter in 3 portraits.
  • James Thomson (Thompson) (baptised 1788-1850), Engraver. Artist associated with 137 portraits.

Placesback to top

Portrait setback to top

Subjects & Themesback to top

Events of 1833back to top

Current affairs

Shaftesbury's Factory Act is passed regulating women's hours and providing for the education of children working in the textile industry.
Bank Act is passed, making Bank of England notes Britain's legal tender.

Art and science

Charles Lamb publishes Last Essays of Elia after the enormous success of his earlier Essays. A comic allegorization of his humdrum clerical job they become one of the period's literary sensations.
Charles Dickens begins his series Sketches by Boz in the Monthly Magazine.

International

Abolition of slavery in the British Empire; 780,000 slaves are freed, £20 million is allocated as compensation for slave owners and a six year apprenticeship system for freed slaves is established.

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