Collection Online

Portrait of a lady
(c. 1795)

Medium
oil on canvas

Measurements
76.9 × 63.5 cm

Credit Line
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Felton Bequest, 1932

Gallery location
19th Century European Paintings Gallery
Level 2, NGV International

 

About this work

A favourite of the court where his Bavarian parents were employed, John Hoppner benefited from royal patronage during George III’s reign. Following Joshua Reynolds’ retirement in 1789, Hoppner established a reputation as a leading portraitist of his day and was elected to the Royal Academy in 1795. His portraits demonstrate an acute sense of the sitter’s character and vitality. A strong advocate of the primacy of colour in painting – a quality somewhat thwarted by the fashion of the day for simple white gowns for women and black clothes for men – he acted as mentor to the young J. M. W. Turner.

Artwork Details

Accession Number
4659-3

Department
International Painting

This digital record has been made available on NGV Collection Online through the generous support of Digitisation Champion Ms Carol Grigor through Metal Manufactures Limited