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Joseph Addison, English essayist
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Joseph Addison, English essayist
Joseph Addison (1672-1719), English essayist and politician. Addison was born in Wiltshire and educated at Charterhouse School and Queens College, Oxford. He excelled in classics and published a translation of Virgils Georgics in 1695. After a brief spell in Europe he found himself unemployed until 1704 when he was commissioned to compose a work celebrating the Battle of Blenheim entitled The Campaign. A career in politics followed, although he continued writing poetry and plays, the most notable of which was Cato, A Tragedy. Addison heklped found the Kitcat Club, at which he and his friend Richard Steele worked to start The Spectator magazine. This engraving by Jacobous Houbraken, based on a portrait by Sir Godfrey Kneller, is from Birchs The Heads of Illustrious Persons of Great Britain published in 1752
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Media ID 6296113
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1600s 1700s 17th 18th Century Engraving Essayist Houbraken Playwright Poet Politician Vertical Joseph Addison Kneller Mono Chrome
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This print showcases Joseph Addison, a prominent figure in 17th and 18th-century English literature and politics. Born in Wiltshire, Addison received an excellent education at Charterhouse School and Queens College, Oxford. His proficiency in classics led him to publish a translation of Virgil's Georgics in 1695, displaying his literary prowess from an early age. After facing unemployment for a period, Addison's fortunes changed when he was commissioned to compose The Campaign, a work celebrating the Battle of Blenheim in 1704. This marked the beginning of his political career alongside his continued dedication to writing poetry and plays. Among his notable works is Cato, A Tragedy. Addison played a significant role in establishing the Kitcat Club with his close friend Richard Steele. Together they worked on launching The Spectator magazine, which became immensely influential during that era. The engraving featured here was skillfully created by Jacobous Houbraken based on Sir Godfrey Kneller's portrait of Joseph Addison. It forms part of Birch's renowned publication "The Heads of Illustrious Persons of Great Britain" released in 1752. This monochrome engraving beautifully captures Addison's dignified presence as it transports us back to the vibrant intellectual atmosphere of 17th and 18th-century England. It serves as both a testament to his multifaceted talents as an essayist, playwright, poet, politician and British author while also highlighting the artistic mastery behind this timeless piece.
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