John Hoppner (British) (1758-1810)
English portrait-painter, was born on the 4th of April 1758 at WhiteChapel. His father was of German extraction, and his mother was 011 of the German attendants at the royal palace. Hoppner was consequently brought early under the notice and received the patronage of George III. He first exhibited at the Royal Academy In 1780. His earliest love was for landscape, but necessity obliged him to turn to the more lucrative business of portrait painting once successful, he had, throughout life, the most fashionable and wealthy sitters. The prince of Wales especially patronized him, and many of his finest portraits are in the state apartments at St James Palace, the best perhaps being those of the prince, the duke and duchess of York, of Lord Rodney and of Lord Nelson. In his later years Hoppner suffered from a chronic disease of the liver; he died on the 23rd of January 1810, When first painted, his works were much admired for the brilliancy and harmony of their coloring, but the injury due to destructive mediums and lapse of time, which many of them suffered caused a great depreciation in his reputation. The appearance, however, of some of his pictures in good condition has shown that his fame as a brilliant colorist was well founded. His drawing is faulty, but his touch has qualities of breadth and freedom that give to his paintings a faint reflection of the charm of Reynolds. Hoppner was a man of great social power, and had the knowledge and accomplishments of a man of the world.