'Neddy's black box' (King George IV; King Charles I (head of); Edmund Burke; Richard Brinsley Sheridan)

1 portrait by Thomas Rowlandson

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© National Portrait Gallery, London

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'Neddy's black box' (King George IV; King Charles I (head of); Edmund Burke; Richard Brinsley Sheridan)

by Thomas Rowlandson, published by Samuel William Fores
hand-coloured etching, published 30 January 1789
9 3/8 in. x 13 1/4 in. (238 mm x 335 mm) paper size
Purchased, 1947
Reference Collection
NPG D12397

Sittersback to top

Artistsback to top

  • Samuel William Fores (baptised 1761-1838), Printseller and publisher. Artist or producer associated with 119 portraits.
  • Thomas Rowlandson (1757-1827), Satirical draughtsman. Artist or producer associated with 30 portraits, Sitter associated with 4 portraits.

Placesback to top

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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