Porträt Joseph Addison (1672-1719)

Portrait of Joseph Addison. A headpiece of the English politician, poet and journalist was made here. Addison’s head is turned to the right, he looks past the viewer. On his head he wears a wig. His clothes can be recognized in the approach. The effigy is oval, underneath it appears its name and a CV in English. Joseph Addison was friends with Richard Steele (BS-III 210), the later writer. They brought together “The Spectator” in 1711, in which contributions by Jonathan Swift and Alexander Pope also appeared. In 1699 he founded the already discussed Kit-Kat-Club in London with friends. Addison’s one-year libretto “Rosamond” remained unsuccessful. The leaf was produced as a copper engraving by John Thornthwaite, about whom nothing more is known. The presentation will probably be the portrait of the German painter Sir Godfrey Kneller (1646-1723), who between 1703 and 1712 created a painting by Addison, now in the National Portrait Gallery in London. The paper was a book page from the publication “The Biographical Magazine: Containing Portraits & Characters of Eminent (...) Persons of Every Age & Nation.” The Händel-Haus Foundation has other portraits of the depicted: BS-III 105, BS-III 178, BS-III 225 and BS-III 239. Signature: Sir G. Kneller pit. Thornthwaite sct. Publish 'd by Harrison & Co. June 1, 1794. Caption: JOSEPH ADDISON, ESQ. (Stiftung Händel-Haus Halle Foundation)