'The comet'
1 portrait of Charles Howard, 11th Duke of Norfolk
'The comet'
by James Sayers, published by Thomas Cornell
etching and aquatint, published 18 February 1789
9 1/8 in. x 11 3/4 in. (232 mm x 298 mm) plate size; 10 1/4 in. x 12 3/4 in. (259 mm x 324 mm) paper size
Purchased, 1905
Reference Collection
NPG D12251
Artistsback to top
- Thomas Cornell (active 1780-1792). Artist or producer associated with 59 portraits.
- James Sayers (1748-1823), Artist. Artist or producer associated with 192 portraits, Sitter in 1 portrait.
Sittersback to top
- Edmund Burke (1729-1797), Statesman; orator; author. Sitter associated with 107 portraits. Identify
- Sir Grey Cooper (circa 1726-1801), Politician; Secretary to the Treasury. Sitter in 3 portraits. Identify
- Edward Smith Stanley, 12th Earl of Derby (1752-1834), Sportsman and patron of horse-racing. Sitter associated with 65 portraits. Identify
- Charles James Fox (1749-1806), Whig statesman. Sitter associated with 313 portraits. Identify
- King George IV (1762-1830), Regent 1811-19; Reigned 1820-30. Sitter associated with 274 portraits. Identify
- Frederick North, 2nd Earl of Guilford (1732-1792), Prime Minister. Sitter associated with 64 portraits. Identify
- Thomas Powys, 1st Baron Lilford (1743-1800), Politician; High Sheriff of Northamptonshire. Sitter in 8 portraits. Identify
- William John Kerr, 5th Marquess of Lothian (1737-1815), Colonel. Sitter in 3 portraits. Identify
- David Murray, 2nd Earl of Mansfield (1727-1796), Diplomat and statesman. Sitter in 19 portraits. Identify
- Charles Howard, 11th Duke of Norfolk (1746-1815), Politician; MP for Carlise and Arundel. Sitter associated with 55 portraits. Identify
- William Henry Cavendish Bentinck, 3rd Duke of Portland (1738-1809), Prime Minister. Sitter associated with 32 portraits. Identify
- William Douglas, 4th Duke of Queensberry (1724-1810), Rake and patron of the turf. Sitter associated with 12 portraits. Identify
- Alexander Wedderburn, 1st Earl of Rosslyn (Lord Loughborough) (1733-1805), Lord Chancellor. Sitter associated with 33 portraits. Identify
- John Montagu, 4th Earl of Sandwich (1718-1792), First Lord of the Admiralty. Sitter associated with 25 portraits. Identify
- John Sawbridge (1732?-1795), Lord Mayor of London. Sitter in 12 portraits. Identify
- Richard Brinsley Sheridan (1751-1816), Dramatist and parliamentary orator. Sitter associated with 168 portraits. Identify
- John Warren (1730-1800), Bishop of Bangor. Sitter in 1 portrait. Identify
- Richard Watson (1737-1816), Cleric and chemist. Sitter associated with 10 portraits. Identify
- Christopher Wilson (1714-1792), Bishop of Bristol. Sitter in 4 portraits. Identify
Events of 1789back to top
Current affairs
George III recovers from the previous year's illness. The 'Regency Crisis' and attendant political wrangling between the Tory Prime Minister William Pitt and the pro-Whig Prince of Wales end. Dismissed as a 'bilious attack', George's sickness was in fact the first sign of the mental health problems which led to the Prince of Wales's appointment as Regent in 1811.Art and science
John Boydell's ambitious new Shakespeare Gallery opens in Pall Mall, displaying works by Britain's leading artists and attempting to combine urban entertainment with the promotion of British history painting.Philosopher Jeremy Bentham publishes An Introduction to the Principles of Morals and Legislation, outlining his 'greatest happiness principle'.
International
George Washington is elected first President of the United States.The French Revolution begins. The storming of the Bastille on the 14 July marks the overthrow of the absolute monarchy in France. The uprising followed the establishment of a governing National Assembly of the people's representatives.
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