Samuel Johnson Portrait by John Opie

Darrin Baines · 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z

Portrait of Samuel Johnson (1709–1784), the celebrated English writer, lexicographer, critic, and conversationalist, painted by English artist John Opie (1761–1807). Johnson is depicted in later life wearing dark robes, reflecting his status as one of the most influential literary figures of 18th-century Britain. Best known for compiling A Dictionary of the English Language (1755), Johnson played a central role in London's literary and intellectual circles and remains a major figure in English literature.