(British 1730-1788)

The Right Honble. John Wilkes Esq: Lord Mayor of the City of London, William Dickinson, engraver, published “at Mrs. Sledges Henrietta Street Covent Garden,” 1774, London, mezzotint, plate 13 x 9 in., sheet 15-1/4 x 11-1/2 in.; unframed

Provenance: Private New England Collection

Note: The subject of this portrait, John Wilkes, was quite the character in life. Born to a distiller in London, he was a radical journalist and member of British Parliament who supported the American Revolution, was renown for his verbal wit, held staunch anti-government views, was a member of the Hellfire Club, wrote poetry so obscene he was declared an outlaw and had to flee to France, fought in at least two duels (one of which ended with Wilkes sharing a bottle of claret with the other duelist and the other with Wilkes being shot in the stomach), and simultaneously was regarded as the ugliest man in Britain and an incorrigible rake and libertine.