(1733 - 1810)
Portrait and history painter Johann Zoffany was born Johannes Zauffaly in Frankfurt-am-Main. After training in Regensburg, he studied in Rome (1750-57), before moving to London in 1760. He was introduced to the royal family in 1764 and George III was so impressed by his royal portraits and groups that he nominated Zoffany a Royal Academician in 1769. Zoffany was in India from 1783 to 1789, where he portrayed British residents and native princes. After his return, he painted few pictures of consequence and by 1800 had given up painting altogether. Several of his Indian works are in the Victoria Memorial, Calcutta. One of his best-known works, ‘The Cock Match at Lucknow’ painted for Warren Hastings, was purchased by the Tate in 1994.
