William Pitt (1759-1806) Prime Minister

Location

Country: UK
City: London
Place: HM Treasury, 1 Horse Guards Road

John Hoppner, portrait painter, was born in London. He entered the Royal Academy Schools in 1775 and became a member of the Academy in 1795. He was appointed Portrait Painter to the Prince of Wales in 1789. However, from the 1790s his achievements were overshadowed by those of the portraitist Sir Thomas Lawrence. Hoppner's first royal portraits were of three of the Princesses and were exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1785. They show the influence of both Romney and Reynolds. Hoppner received numerous commissions, mainly from members of the Whig party. His best and most attractive portraits are considered to be his groups of children. He died in 1810 at his home in Charles Street, Mayfair.
William A. Menzies worked as a copyist, making numerous accurate reproductions of works by other artists. In total there are six copies by Menzies in the Government Art Collection, all of which were painted between 1910 and 1918.

People

William Pitt (1759 - 1806)

Places

Subjects

quill, ink pot/ink stand, paper (as Subject), book, male portrait, man, 19th century costume, Prime Minister, pillar (architectural feature), curtain, carpet, chair

Materials & Techniques

canvas, oil, oil painting

Artist

John, (After) Hoppner (1758 - 1810)
William A Menzies

Title

William Pitt (1759-1806) Prime Minister

Date

1910

Medium

Oil on canvas

Dimensions

height: 243.00 cm, width: 155.00 cm

Acquisition

Presented by William Lockett Agnew, 1910

Provenance

Collection of art dealer (William) Lockett Agnew (1858-1918); by whom presented for display in 10 Downing Street in 1910

GAC number

0/29