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James Boswell

(1740-1795), Biographer of Dr Johnson

Mid-Georgian Portraits Catalogue Entry

Sitter associated with 17 portraits
Born in Edinburgh in 1740, Boswell was the son of the Laird of Auchinleck, a title he later inherited. In 1762, having qualified as a lawyer, he travelled to London hoping to rub shoulders with ‘men of genius’ and in particular his literary hero, Samuel Johnson. He realised this ambition the following year when he met Johnson in a Covent Garden bookshop. The two men became close friends despite having differing views on topics such as the slave trade. Boswell called Johnson’s views against the slave trade ‘zeal without knowledge’ and published an anti-abolitionist poem No Abolition of Slavery; Or the Universal Empire of Love in 1791. Nevertheless, Boswell is chiefly remembered for another work published in 1791, his acclaimed Life of Samuel Johnson, in which the innovative use of colloquial language, conversation and short sentences helped to bring Johnson’s character to life.

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James Boswell, by Sir Joshua Reynolds - NPG 4452

James Boswell

by Sir Joshua Reynolds
oil on canvas, 1785
On display in Room 18 on Floor 3 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG 4452

James Boswell, studio of Sir Joshua Reynolds - NPG 1675

James Boswell

studio of Sir Joshua Reynolds
oil on canvas, based on a work of circa 1785
NPG 1675

James Boswell, after Sir Thomas Lawrence - NPG 2755

James Boswell

after Sir Thomas Lawrence
pencil and wax crayon on paper, circa 1830-1839, based on a work of circa 1790-1795
NPG 2755

James Boswell, by James Brownlee Hunter, after  Sir Joshua Reynolds - NPG 4344

James Boswell

by James Brownlee Hunter, after Sir Joshua Reynolds
monochrome watercolour on paper, late 19th century
NPG 4344

James Boswell in dress of Corsican chief, by John Sebastian Miller (formerly Johann Sebastian Müller), after  Samuel Wale - NPG D5416

James Boswell in dress of Corsican chief

by John Sebastian Miller (formerly Johann Sebastian Müller), after Samuel Wale
line engraving, published 1769
NPG D5416

James Boswell, by G.W. Hutin, published by  Abraham Wivell, after  Sir Joshua Reynolds - NPG D14716

James Boswell

by G.W. Hutin, published by Abraham Wivell, after Sir Joshua Reynolds
stipple engraving, (1785)
NPG D14716

'The biographers', by James Sayers, published by  Thomas Cornell - NPG D12243

'The biographers'

by James Sayers, published by Thomas Cornell
etching, published June 1786
NPG D12243

James Boswell, by and published by John Jones, after  Sir Joshua Reynolds - NPG D19988

James Boswell

by and published by John Jones, after Sir Joshua Reynolds
mezzotint, published 17 January 1786 (1785)
NPG D19988

James Boswell, published by John Sewell, after  Sir Joshua Reynolds - NPG D14282

James Boswell

published by John Sewell, after Sir Joshua Reynolds
stipple engraving, published 1787 (1785)
NPG D14282

Unknown man, possibly James Boswell, by Henry Bone, possibly after  Sir Joshua Reynolds - NPG D17755

Unknown man, possibly James Boswell

by Henry Bone, possibly after Sir Joshua Reynolds
pencil, early 19th century
NPG D17755

James Boswell, by William Daniell, after  George Dance - NPG D31998

James Boswell

by William Daniell, after George Dance
soft-ground etching, published 10 April 1802 (28 April 1793)
NPG D31998

James Boswell, by William Daniell, after  George Dance - NPG D12117

James Boswell

by William Daniell, after George Dance
soft-ground etching, published 10 April 1802 (28 April 1793)
NPG D12117

'A literary party at Sir Joshua Reynolds's', by D. George Thompson, published by  Owen Bailey, after  James William Edmund Doyle - NPG D14518

'A literary party at Sir Joshua Reynolds's'

by D. George Thompson, published by Owen Bailey, after James William Edmund Doyle
stipple and line engraving, published 1 October 1851
NPG D14518

Web image not currently available

James Boswell

by G.W. Hutin, published by Abraham Wivell, after Sir Joshua Reynolds
stipple engraving, (1785)
NPG D20264

Web image not currently available

'A literary party at Sir Joshua Reynolds's'

by D. George Thompson, published by William Walker, and Owen Bailey, after James William Edmund Doyle
stipple and line engraving, published 1 July 1848
NPG D49811

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