Sir Robert Harley
9 of 17 portraits by Peter Oliver
© National Portrait Gallery, London
Sir Robert Harley
by George Vertue, after Peter Oliver
line engraving, 1737
21 7/8 in. x 14 7/8 in. (556 mm x 377 mm) plate size; 13 in. x 8 in. (329 mm x 203 mm) paper size
Purchased with help from the Friends of the National Libraries and the Pilgrim Trust, 1966
Reference Collection
NPG D35450
Artistsback to top
- Peter Oliver (circa 1589-1647), Miniature painter; eldest son of Isaac Oliver. Artist or producer associated with 17 portraits, Sitter in 4 portraits.
- George Vertue (1683-1756), Engraver and antiquary. Artist or producer associated with 865 portraits, Sitter in 7 portraits.
Related worksback to top
- NPG D27212: Sir Robert Harley (from same plate)
- NPG D27213: Sir Robert Harley (from same plate)
- NPG D2193: Sir Robert Harley (from same plate)
- NPG D35451: Sir Robert Harley (from same plate)
Events of 1737back to top
Current affairs
Death of Queen Caroline, wife of George II, on 20 November.Frederick, Prince of Wales quarrels with his father. The king expels him from court for criticising the government.
Theatrical Licensing Act introduces censorship, requiring plays to be submitted to the Lord Chancellor for approval and reducing the number of theatres.
Art and science
French portrait-painter Jean-Baptiste Van Loo arrives in England where he soon attracts prominent sitters such as Robert Walpole, Colley Cibber and William Murray, 1st Earl of Mansfield.Venus passes in front of Mercury and is witnessed by amateur astronomer John Bevis at the Royal Greenwich Observatory. It remains the only such planetary occlusion that has been directly observed.
International
Colonist William Byrd founds Richmond, Virginia.French Académie Royale de Peintre et de Sculpture begins its programme of public exhibitions.
Florence loses her independence when the last Medici Grand Duke of Tuscany dies.
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