George John Spencer, 2nd Earl Spencer (1758-1834) Home Secretary
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About the work
- Location
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Country: UK
City: London
Place: Government Art Collection
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About the artist
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.
Samuel William Reynolds was a painter and engraver. Despite publishing his first prints in the mid-1790s, he found himself in debt by 1800 and came to rely upon the financial help of Samuel Whitbread MP. It was under Whitbread’s patronage that Reynolds was able to broaden his interests to include painting, architecture and landscape design. He exhibited paintings at the Royal Academy and British Institution and was also a collector; owning a group of drawings by Thomas Girtin. In 1809 he visited France for the first time and he went on to exhibit engravings at the Paris Salon in 1810 and 1812. Reynolds also worked in Paris on occasion, where he found a market for his paintings of landscapes and cottage scenes.
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Explore
- Places
- Subjects
- male portrait, 19th century costume, coat, cravat, Earl, Home Secretary
- Materials & Techniques
- mezzotint
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Details
- Title
- George John Spencer, 2nd Earl Spencer (1758-1834) Home Secretary
- Date
- Medium
- Mezzotint
- Acquisition
- Purchased 1992
- GAC number
- 15936