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Student Artwork Guide

William Dundas (1762–1845), Politician

Name Class Date

John Hoppner, William Dundas (1762–1845), Politician. Public domain.

The facts

Artist
John Hoppner topimpressionists.com/en/artists/john-hoppner/
Artist’s dates
1758 – 1810
Original size
76 x 64 cm

In context

William Dundas (1762–1845), Politician — John Hoppner

How big is it?

The original measures 76 × 64 cm (height × width), drawn here beside an adult of average height.

When might this have been painted?

  1. 1750
  2. 1760
  3. 1770
  4. 1780
  5. 1790
  6. 1800
  7. 1810

Shaded: the lifetime of John Hoppner (1758–1810)

This record has no exact year on file — using the artist's lifetime and the work's style, what decade would you guess?

Compare with

Pick one work above: name two things it shares with this one, and one thing that's different.

More works to set beside this one: topimpressionists.com/en/art/similar/john-hoppner-william-dundas-1762-1845-politician-AQRMPN-en/

Colours

Measured from the image

    Main colour

    Espresso #674a3a

    Catalogued palette

    • #674A3A
    • #191710
    • #362215
    • #A07763
    Palette
    Earthy The dominant colour family in the image.
    Main colour name
    Espresso
    Intensity
    Monochromatic How saturated and varied the colours are, from a single toned-down hue to many bright ones.
    Contrast
    Serene How much the colours differ in lightness and saturation across the picture.
    Harmony
    Balanced Harmony How well the colours work together, from clashing to fully unified.
    Brightness
    Deep_shadow How light or dark the picture reads overall, from deep shadow to bright highlight.
    Saturation
    Muted How pure and strong the colours are, from near-grey to fully vivid.

    Artist and museum

    Artist

    John Hoppner

    Born in Whitechapel, United Kingdom

    a life of artistry and royal patronage

    john hoppner, a prominent english portrait painter, left an indelible mark on the art world with his vibrant colour palette. born in whitechapel, london, in 1758 to german parents, hoppner's life was marked by royal patronage and artistic brilliance.

    early life and training

    at a young age, hoppner became a chorister at the royal chapel, but his inclination towards art led him to enter the royal academy in 1775.

    in 1778, he received a silver medal for drawing from life, and in 1782, the gold medal for historical painting with his work on king lear.

    rise to fame and notable works

    john hoppner's portraits of women and children were deemed his most successful works by competent judges. his touch, characterized by breadth and freedom, gave his paintings a faint reflection of the charm of reynolds. notable works include:

    mrs jordan as viola in 'twelfth night', now at english heritage (london, united kingdom), showcasing his mastery over portrait painting.

    his portraits of the prince of wales, the duke and duchess of york, lord rodney, and lord nelson, which were hung in the state apartments at st james's palace, demonstrate his high societal connections.

    legacy and later life

    john hoppner's life was marked by a chronic liver disease. he died on january 23, 1810. despite this, his legacy endures through his vibrant portraits that continue to captivate art lovers.

    explore more of john hoppner's works at https://AllPaintingsStore.com/@/johnhoppner.

    discover the broader context of british art at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/art_of_the_united_kingdom.

    further reading and exploration

    for a deeper dive into the world of british art, consider the following:

    discovering the artworks of dyrham park, united kingdom

    sir edwin landseer lutyens, an english architect known for his imaginative adaptations.

    Where to read more

    • The artist John Hoppner topimpressionists.com/en/artists/john-hoppner/
    • Similar works More works to compare topimpressionists.com/en/art/similar/john-hoppner-william-dundas-1762-1845-politician-AQRMPN-en/

    Find this online

    QR code linking to the download page for William Dundas (1762–1845), Politician

    topimpressionists.com/en/art/download/john-hoppner-william-dundas-1762-1845-politician-AQRMPN-en/

    Cite this artwork

    MLA
    Hoppner, John. William Dundas (1762–1845), Politician. n.d., https://topimpressionists.com/en/art/john-hoppner-william-dundas-1762-1845-politician-AQRMPN-en/
    APA
    Hoppner, John (n.d.). William Dundas (1762–1845), Politician [Painting]. https://topimpressionists.com/en/art/john-hoppner-william-dundas-1762-1845-politician-AQRMPN-en/
    Chicago
    John Hoppner. William Dundas (1762–1845), Politician. n.d. https://topimpressionists.com/en/art/john-hoppner-william-dundas-1762-1845-politician-AQRMPN-en/
    Harvard
    Hoppner, John (n.d.) William Dundas (1762–1845), Politician. Available at: https://topimpressionists.com/en/art/john-hoppner-william-dundas-1762-1845-politician-AQRMPN-en/

    Look closely

    William Dundas (1762–1845), Politician — John Hoppner

    Look closely

    Answer in your own words. There are no wrong answers here — only answers you can explain.

    1. What catches your eye first, and why?
    2. Which colours or shapes create the mood — and what is that mood?
    3. Look back at Richard Humphreys, the Boxer, earlier in this guide. Name two things it shares with this work, and one that is different.
    4. What might the artist have wanted you to feel?
    5. If you could ask the artist one question about this work, what would it be?

    Your response

    Write a short paragraph about this artwork. Use the facts from the earlier parts of this guide, and your answers above.