W. McKay and W. Roberts, John Hoppner, R.A., London, 1909, p. 269.
W. McKay and W. Roberts, John Hoppner, R.A., London, 1914, p. 269.

London, Royal Academy, Exhibition of works by the Old Masters and by deceased Masters of the British School, 1 January-10 March 1894, no. 35, as 'John Hoppner', (lent by Lord Burton).
Birmingham City Art Gallery, on loan, 1963-1972, as 'John Hoppner'.
London, No. 10 Downing Street, on loan, 1972-1978, as 'John Hoppner'.
London, Kenwood ... House, on loan, as 'John Hoppner'.
Leeds Castle, on loan, as 'John Hoppner'.

Sir William Beechey was the most important portrait painter in Britain during the late 18^th and early 19^th centuries.  He started painting portraits of landed gentry around Norfolk, but quickly earned the notice of even royal patrons.  He was appointed Court Painter to Queen Charlotte and is best known for portraits of notable members of Regency society, in ... luding Lord Nelson. His charming works provide insight into the lives of those he depicted.  The details of clothing and even the games and pastimes of his subjects reveal much about Regency society. He was especially skilled at portraying children with great sympathy and in most charming detail.

Beechey was born in Burford Oxfordshire.  Having lost both parents at an early age, he was raised by an uncle who was a solicitor, as was his father. His uncle sought to have him train for the law.  However, encounters with students at the Royal Academy led him to begin training as a painter.  He entered the Royal Academy in 1772, where he studied with Zoffany and was greatly influenced by Reynolds. He would exhibit at the Royal Academy from 1776 until his death.

After finishing his studies in 1782, he moved to Norwich, where he earned several commissions, including a portrait of Sir John Wodehouse and a series of civic portraits for St. Andrew's Hall, Norwich. By 1787, he had returned to London, where Beechey's style perfectly suited the conventional taste of the royal family, and in 1793, he was commissioned to paint a full-length portrait of Queen Charlotte who  subsequently named as her official portrait painter. That same year, he was elected as an associate member of the Royal Academy.  In 1798, he was elected a full member of the Royal Academy and painted the grand George III and the Prince of Wales Reviewing Troops for that year's academy's exhibition. This enormous composition depicts King George III, the Prince of Wales and staff officers on horseback at an imagined cavalry review in Hyde Park. The king was reported to be so pleased with the painting that he rewarded Beechey with a knighthood.