William Hoare facts for kids

William Hoare – Self-portrait

Portrait of Mary Howard, Duchess of Norfolk, by William Hoare

Philip Dormer Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield by William Hoare

William Hoare of Bath (born around 1707, died 1792) was a famous British artist. He was known for painting portraits, which are pictures of people. He also made prints. For many years, he was the most important portrait painter in the city of Bath, Somerset. He was especially good at using pastels, which are like colored chalks. William Hoare was also one of the first members of the Royal Academy, a very important art group.

The Life of William Hoare

William Hoare was born near a town called Eye in Suffolk, England. He received a good education in Faringdon. From a young age, he showed a talent for drawing.

Early Art Training

Because of his talent, William was sent to London to study art. His teacher was Giuseppe Grisoni, an artist from Italy. In 1728, Grisoni went back to Italy, and William went with him.

William spent nine years in Rome, Italy, continuing his art studies. He learned from another artist named Francesco Imperiali. This time in Italy helped him become a skilled painter.

Moving to Bath

When William Hoare returned to London in 1737 or 1738, he found it hard to start his art career there. So, he decided to move to Bath. Bath was a growing spa town, very popular with wealthy people.

In Bath, William Hoare became very successful. He received many requests to paint portraits. He painted important people of the time. These included famous musicians like George Frideric Handel. He also painted powerful political leaders. These were people like Prime Ministers Robert Walpole and William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham.

William often made several copies of his most popular portraits. This suggests he had a studio with helpers. His paintings also became well-known through prints called mezzotints. These prints were made by other skilled artists. William himself also made some delicate prints of his family and friends.

A Leading Artist in Bath

William Hoare was the first well-known portrait painter to live in Bath. He was the top artist there until Thomas Gainsborough arrived in 1759. Even after Gainsborough came, William remained a favorite of his important supporters. These included the Duke of Newcastle and his family.

Other important people who hired him were the Earls of Pembroke and Chesterfield. The Duke of Beaufort was also a patron. William Hoare, along with Gainsborough and Joshua Reynolds, helped start the Royal Academy. This was a big step for art in Britain.

Community Involvement and Family

From 1742, William Hoare was very involved with the Royal Mineral Water Hospital in Bath. He helped manage the hospital as a governor. This role allowed him to meet many important visitors to Bath. He also met wealthy families from the area.

A writer named Chalmers described William Hoare as a "clever and friendly English painter." William Hoare passed away in Bath on December 12, 1792.

His son, Prince Hoare, became famous as a painter and a writer for plays. His daughter, Mary Hoare, was also a talented painter.

Famous Artworks

One of William Hoare's oil paintings is called Dr Oliver and Mr Pierce examining patients with Paralysis, Rheumatism and Leprosy. This painting was displayed at the Royal Mineral Water Hospital for many years. In 2019, it was moved to a new building at Bath's Royal United Hospital.

• 

  George Brudenell-Bruce (Lord Bruce)

• 

  Richard Grenville-Temple

• 

  William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham

• 

  Portrait of Ayuba Suleiman Diallo

• 

  Portrait of a Lady

• 

  Philip Yorke, 1st Earl of Hardwicke

• 

  Lady Frances Shirley, National Trust

• 

  Richard ('Beau') Nash

• 

  Henry Fiennes Pelham-Clinton

• 

  Frances Elizabeth Brudenell-Bruce