Robert Hunter (painter)
Encyclopedia
Robert Hunter portrait-painter, a native of Ulster
, studied under the elder Pope, and had a considerable practice in Dublin in the middle of the eighteenth century. He modelled his tone of colouring on the painting of old masters.
His portraits were excellent likenesses, if not of the first rank in painting. He had an extensive practice until the arrival of Robert Home
in 1783, who attracted Hunter's prime business. Hunter contributed frequently to the Dublin Society of Artists after helping to found it. Many of his portraits were engraved in mezzotint, including John, lord Naas (by W. Dickinson), Simon, earl Harcourt, now at Nuneham Park (by E. Fisher), Dr. Samuel Madden (by R. Purcell), John Wesley, painted in Dublin (by James Watson), and others. In the Mansion House at Dublin there is a portrait of the Earl of Buckinghamshire by Hunter. A portrait of Thomas Echlin is stated to have been etched as well as drawn by him.
Ulster
Ulster is one of the four provinces of Ireland, located in the north of the island. In ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for administrative and judicial...
, studied under the elder Pope, and had a considerable practice in Dublin in the middle of the eighteenth century. He modelled his tone of colouring on the painting of old masters.
Biography
Hunter was born in Ulster at an unknown date. By 1748 he was creating portraits. His early work tended to be three quarter portraits with a landscape as a background.His portraits were excellent likenesses, if not of the first rank in painting. He had an extensive practice until the arrival of Robert Home
Robert Home
Robert Home was a British portrait oil painting artist who travelled to the Indian subcontinent in 1791. During his travels he also painted several historic scenes and landscapes....
in 1783, who attracted Hunter's prime business. Hunter contributed frequently to the Dublin Society of Artists after helping to found it. Many of his portraits were engraved in mezzotint, including John, lord Naas (by W. Dickinson), Simon, earl Harcourt, now at Nuneham Park (by E. Fisher), Dr. Samuel Madden (by R. Purcell), John Wesley, painted in Dublin (by James Watson), and others. In the Mansion House at Dublin there is a portrait of the Earl of Buckinghamshire by Hunter. A portrait of Thomas Echlin is stated to have been etched as well as drawn by him.