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William Godwin

(1756-1836), Philosopher and novelist

Regency Portraits Catalogue Entry

Sitter in 13 portraits
Philosopher and novelist, Godwin was arguably the most famous English writer of the revolutionary period and the leading radical spokesman. In the Enquiry concerning Political Justice (1793) he detailed his optimistic belief that if human reason could be 'perfected' this would allow authoritarian laws and institutions to be overturned. Despite being ideologically opposed to marriage, he married the feminist writer Mary Wollstonecraft in 1797 when she was pregnant with their daughter, the future Mary Shelley. Godwin had a powerful influence on the Romantic poets, especially William Wordsworth and Percy Bysshe Shelley.

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Thomas Holcroft; William Godwin, by Sir Thomas Lawrence - NPG 6880

Thomas Holcroft; William Godwin

by Sir Thomas Lawrence
pencil with black and red chalk, 1794
NPG 6880

William Godwin, by George Dawe, after  James Northcote - NPG D8387

William Godwin

by George Dawe, after James Northcote
mezzotint, (1802)
NPG D8387

William Godwin, by and published by George Dawe, after  James Northcote - NPG D8414

William Godwin

by and published by George Dawe, after James Northcote
mezzotint, published 4 October 1802 (1802)
NPG D8414

William Godwin, by William Ridley, published by  Vernor & Hood, after  Sir Thomas Lawrence - NPG D15558

William Godwin

by William Ridley, published by Vernor & Hood, after Sir Thomas Lawrence
stipple engraving, published 31 January 1805
NPG D15558

William Godwin, by Miss Roberts, after  Thomas Kearsley - NPG D2789

William Godwin

by Miss Roberts, after Thomas Kearsley
stipple engraving, published 1821
NPG D2789

William Godwin, by George Dawe, published by  Francis Graves & Co, and published by  James Macrone, after  James Northcote - NPG D8415

William Godwin

by George Dawe, published by Francis Graves & Co, and published by James Macrone, after James Northcote
mezzotint, published 1 June 1836 (1802)
NPG D8415

William Godwin, by Daniel Maclise, published by  James Fraser - NPG D15559

William Godwin

by Daniel Maclise, published by James Fraser
lithograph, published 1873
NPG D15559

Web image not currently available

William Godwin

by George Dawe, after James Northcote
mezzotint, (1802)
NPG D20131

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