Alexander Pope

This portraitback to top

‘My portrait, by Dahl, I have sent a week ago to your nephew’ wrote Pope to his publisher Jacob Tonson, 7 June 1732. It is not known, however, whether he refers to a canvas or to an impression of John Simon's mezzotint engraving inscribed M.Dahl Pinx. 1727/J.Simon fec.1728. [1] Three oils are known, none clearly pre-eminent: NPG 4132; a somewhat better version of the type at Reading University, Faculty of Letters, and a copy at Wilton House, collection Earl of Pembroke. [2]

Footnotesback to top

1) W. K. Wimsatt, The Portraits of Alexander Pope, 1965, p 93.
2) Ibid, p 95, plates 10.1, 10.2.

Physical descriptionback to top

Grey-green eyes, short grey wig, fresh complexion; bright blue gown trimmed with dark brown fur, white shirt open at collar; white quill in his right hand; grey-green background.

Conservationback to top

Some comparatively recent retouchings between the eyebrows.

Provenanceback to top

Bought, 1959, from William Dawson of Pall Mall; in the possession, 1939, of B. F. Stevens and Browne of Little Russell Street from whom acquired, in or after 1942, by Peter Murray Hill; previous history not known.

Exhibitionsback to top

'Local Treasures', Ealing Museum Society, 1969.

Reproductionsback to top

Engraved by J. Simon, 1728.


This extended catalogue entry is from the out-of-print National Portrait Gallery collection catalogue: John Kerslake, Early Georgian Portraits, Her Majesty's Stationery Office, 1977, and is as published then. For the most up-to-date details on individual Collection works, we recommend reading the information provided in the Search the Collection results on this website in parallel with this text.

View all known portraits for Michael Dahl

View all known portraits for Alexander Pope