Portrait studies by George Dance, R.A., F.S.A. (1741-1825) (lots 128-131)Between 1793 and 1810, George Dance executed 53 profile portraits of his fellow Royal Academicians. Dance, an architect by profession, drew portraits of friends and other eminent figures, as 'a great relaxation from the severer studies and more laborious employment of my professional life'. The project was begun in 1793 - the Silver Jubilee of the Royal Academy's foundation - and the majority of the portraits date from that year. Dance continued to sketch his contemporaries and 72 of Dance's portraits were etched by fellow Academician William Daniell (1769-1837), including 16 of the Academicians' portraits, and were published along with brief biographical notes from 1802 onwards. Another 84 engravings were executed but not published at the time. It was Dance's regular practice to make more than one portrait from a prototype, some being more highly finished than others. The present group of portrait drawings are inscribed with the sitter’s names, but are undated. Soft ground etchings of all the present sitters were executed by Daniell.

George Dance, R.A., F.S.A. (London 1741-1825)

Portrait studies of Thomas Hardwick (1752-1829), William Tyler, R.A. (d. 1801) (illustrated), and Joseph Wilton, R.A. (1722-1803)

Details

George Dance, R.A., F.S.A. (London 1741-1825)
Portrait studies of Thomas Hardwick (1752-1829), William Tyler, R.A. (d. 1801) (illustrated), and Joseph Wilton, R.A. (1722-1803)
all inscribed with the names of the sitters
pencil and red chalk
9 ¾ x 7 ¾ in. (24.7 x 19.7 cm.); and Portrait study of George Hall, half-length; and Two portrait studies of gentlemen, half-length, in profile, oval, pencil
(6)

Lot Essay

Joseph Wilton, sculptor, was one of the founding members of the Royal Academy in 1768. Tyler was also a sculptor, landscaper and architect, and another Founder Member of the Royal Academy. In 1795 Tyler and Dance were appointed to examine the accounts of the Royal Academy following the resignation of Sir William Chambers (1723-1796). The subsequent year Tyler and Dance were appointed the Academy's first auditors, with the aim of setting up firm financial policies for the Institution. For these Tyler was presented with a silver cup in 1799. Thomas Hardwick was a British architect and founding member of the Architects' Club in 1791. In 1769, aged 17, he enrolled at the new Royal Academy Schools, where he studied architecture under Chambers, for whom he later worked on the construction of Somerset House. During his first year at the Royal Academy he won the silver medal in architecture, and from 1772 to 1805 he exhibited there. His most notable work is probably St Mary's, Marylebone, London.

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