Sir Nathaniel DANCE-HOLLAND, 1st Baronet RA (1735-1811, English)

Portrait of an Officer

c. 1760-68

Oil on Canvas

36 ½ x 32 inches framed

Price: Sold

This majestic portrait was painted by Nathaniel Dance-Holland, one of King George III’s favourite artists. The sitter would have been in a position of significant rank. The colour and luminosity of his striking uniform is highlighted by the contrasting grey skies beyond. Sir Dance-Holland was the third son of the 18th Century London architect George Dance the Elder. He studied under Francis Hayman as well as spending several years in Italy where he was much influenced by the sophisticated portrait style of Pompeo Batoni (1708-1787).

Dance-Holland also became hopelessly smitten with Angelica Kauffman (1741-1807) whilst in Italy. On his return to England, he took up portrait painting and contributed to the first exhibition at the Royal Academy (1769) with full length portraits of King George III and his young Queen. The Royal Collection holds many of his works including some of his early History paintings. Dance-Holland was a founding member of the Academy alongside his teacher Hayman. He continued to contribute portraits and history paintings to the Academy exhibitions until he retired in 1776, after being bestowed a large inheritance.

Upon marrying his wife Harriet - the daughter of Sir Cecil Bishop - in 1790, Dance-Holland bought the manor house in Little Wittenham and took on the suffix Holland. Following his retirement from professional painting he became the MP for East Grinstead and was then made a baron.

Sadly when he passed away in 1811 and had no children to pass on the wealth he had created through his paintings as well as his marriage. The sitter can be identified as a military officer by the gold braid on his right shoulder. The black cockade affixed to his tricorn hat places the portrait between 1715-1768, after which point officers wore bicorn hats and regulated uniforms.