Thomas Gray
(1716-1771), Classical scholar and poetEarly Georgian Portraits Catalogue Entry
Sitter in 14 portraits
Poet, classical scholar and letter writer, Gray studied at Eton College from 1725 before entering Cambridge in 1734. From 1739 to 1741, he and his friend Horace Walpole toured the continent where they quarrelled and fell out temporarily. Gray returned to Cambridge where he began seriously writing poetry. Among his most famous poems are Ode to Spring (1748), Elegy in a Country Churchyard (1751) and Ode on a Distant Prospect of Eton College (1747). Gray spent the majority of his life in Cambridge and in 1768, he was appointed to the prestigious post of Professor of History and Modern Languages at Pembroke College..
by John Giles Eccardt
oil on canvas, 1747-1748
On display at Strawberry Hill Trust, Twickenham
NPG 989
by James Basire, after William Mason
pencil, 1771-1775, based on a work of 1771
NPG 425
by Unknown artist
plaster cast of bust, circa 1771-1819
NPG 781
by John Sebastian Miller (formerly Johann Sebastian Müller), after John Giles Eccardt
line engraving, 1753 (1747-1748)
NPG D19788
after William Mason
etching, (1760?)
NPG D5161
after William Mason
etching, (1760?)
NPG D5162
by William Henshaw, after William Mason
etching, (1760?)
NPG D5163
by William Henshaw, after William Mason
etching, (1760?)
NPG D5164
after William Mason
etching, (1760?)
NPG D8952
by James Basire, after William Mason, and after Benjamin Wilson
line engraving, published 1 March 1775 (circa 1771)
NPG D14054
by William Doughty, after William Mason
etching, published 1778
NPG D2801
by William Doughty, after William Mason
etching, published 1778
NPG D2802
by John Raphael Smith
stipple engraving, circa 1781-1802
NPG D47449
by William Ridley, published by Charles Cooke
stipple engraving, published 23 May 1795
NPG D19166
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