Geoffrey Chaucer
14 of 23 portraits of Geoffrey Chaucer
© National Portrait Gallery, London
Geoffrey Chaucer
by George Vertue, after Unknown artist
line engraving, 1737
13 1/2 in. x 9 1/4 in. (343 mm x 235 mm) paper size
Given by the daughter of compiler William Fleming MD, Mary Elizabeth Stopford (née Fleming), 1931
Reference Collection
NPG D33018
Artistsback to top
- Unknown artist, Artist. Artist or producer associated with 6578 portraits.
- George Vertue (1683-1756), Engraver and antiquary. Artist or producer associated with 865 portraits, Sitter in 7 portraits.
Subjects & Themesback to top
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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