Dr John Wolcot (1738-1819), better known by his pseudonym, 'Peter Pindar' was a physician, poet, satirist and amateur artist. Wolcot trained as a doctor before taking holy orders and being ordained in 1769. Only three years later however, he abandoned the church and returned to medicine. He began to write professionally during the early 1780s, first achieving notice with his series of satires on Royal Academicians, entitled Lyric Odes to the Royal Academicians (1782-5), followed by satires on the royal family, which proved exceptionally popular.
In London, Henry Bone was introduced to fellow Cornishman (also from Truro) Dr Wolcot, who encouraged him to concentrate on painting miniatures on ivory and in enamel. Wolcot wrote to Ozias Humphry recommending that Bone be elected as an Associate Royal Academician (see B. Long, British Miniaturists 1520-1860, London, 1929, p. 37) and Bone was elected A.R.A. in 1801 and R.A. in 1811.
The present miniature compares with a painting by another Cornishman, John Opie (1761-1807), who was also promoted by Dr Wolcot, which is now in the Royal Cornwall Museum, Truro, inv. no. TRURI: 1925.119). We are indebted to Lucinda Middleton of Moma, Wales for drawing our attention to this.
Ingamells (op. cit.) records another dated enamel by Bone of Dr Wolcot in the Victoria & Albert Museum (inv. no. 706.1904).