William Pitt (1759-1806) Prime Minister

Location

Country: UK
City: London
Place: Foreign. Commonwealth & Development Office, Carlton Gardens

This painting is a copy of a work by John Hoppner and was previously in the collection of the Marquess of Camden at Bayham Abbey in Kent. Hoppner’s original portrait of Pitt was commissioned by the diplomatist and politician Henry Phipps, first Earl of Mulgrave (1755-1831), a strong supporter of Pitt. It hung in the Grocers' Hall (of the Grocers’ livery company) in the City of London, but was destroyed when fire spread through the building in 1965 after a light bulb that was left on set fire to an oak lintel beneath the main staircase. Although regarded by many as Hoppner's best work, the painting was also criticised on the grounds of 'so much hauteur and disdainful severity'. Hoppner and his studio made a number of copies of the portrait (of which this is probably one) as did various other artists such as Ramsay Richard Reinagle (1775-1862) and Samuel Lane (1780-1859).

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.

People

William Pitt (1759 - 1806)

Places

Subjects

male portrait, man, 18th century costume, ceremonial costume, robe, dress coat, cravat, tassel, Prime Minister, column, pillar (architectural feature), curtain

Materials & Techniques

canvas, oil, oil painting

Artist

John, (After) Hoppner (1758 - 1810)

Title

William Pitt (1759-1806) Prime Minister

Date

1805

Medium

Oil on canvas

Dimensions

height: 141.00 cm, width: 112.00 cm

Acquisition

Purchased from Spink & Son, February 1976

Provenance

The Marquess Camden, Bayham Abbey, Kent ("Bayham Abbey" copy of Hoppner's Grocer's portrait)

GAC number

12215