Richard Porson
(1759-1808), Greek scholarRegency Portraits Catalogue Entry
Sitter in 9 portraits
A classical scholar, the most brilliant of the English school that devoted itself to the task of freeing Greek texts from corruption introduced through the centuries. He studied at Trinity College, Cambridge, which he attended from 1778 to 1785, and was appointed Professor of Greek there in 1792. Porson's edition of the plays of Aeschylus was printed in 1792. He edited four plays of Euripides: Hecuba (1797), Orestes (1798), Phoenissae (1799), and Medea (1801). Porson was acclaimed for his insight into Greek metre and his appreciation of the fine points of Greek diction. A Porson prize for the best translation into classical Greek verse has been awarded at Cambridge since 1817.
by Giovanni Domenico Giannelli
plaster cast of bust, 1808
NPG 673
by Elkington & Co, after a bust by Giovanni Domenico Giannelli
electrotype of bust, 1883, based on a work of 1808
NPG 673a
by Henry Adlard, published by Longman & Co, after John Hoppner
line engraving, (1796)
NPG D40361
by Henry Adlard, published by Longman & Co, after John Hoppner
line engraving, (1796)
NPG D15348
published by James Asperne
etching and stipple engraving, published 1 January 1809
NPG D15354
by William Sharp, after John Hoppner
line engraving, published 4 November 1810
NPG D5546
by and published by William Sharp, after John Hoppner
line engraving, published 4 November 1810
NPG D19686
by Charles Turner, published by R. Harradan & Son, after Thomas Kirkby
mezzotint, published 1 October 1812
NPG D40362
by and published by William Sharp, after John Hoppner
line engraving, published 4 November 1810
NPG D19859
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