Portrait of the Artist Francis Hayman
This portrait commemorates the friendship of two fellow Devonian artists. A copy of the larger version at the Royal Academy, it marks a transition in the careers of both artist and sitter.
At this critical point in time Hayman’s portrait practice was in decline as his rococo style fell out of fashion. Reynolds, by contrast, rose to be the most successful and influential portraitist of the eighteenth century. Nevertheless, the two men remained on friendly terms as through the 1760s both worked to establish a state sponsored academy of artists. When the Royal Academy was eventually founded in 1768 by George III, with Reynolds as President, Hayman was awarded the post of librarian. Hayman was also given a prominent position (seated centre left) in Yohann Zoffany’s 1772 group portrait of the Academy members.
At this critical point in time Hayman’s portrait practice was in decline as his rococo style fell out of fashion. Reynolds, by contrast, rose to be the most successful and influential portraitist of the eighteenth century. Nevertheless, the two men remained on friendly terms as through the 1760s both worked to establish a state sponsored academy of artists. When the Royal Academy was eventually founded in 1768 by George III, with Reynolds as President, Hayman was awarded the post of librarian. Hayman was also given a prominent position (seated centre left) in Yohann Zoffany’s 1772 group portrait of the Academy members.
Object Summary
- Accession Loan No.
- 7/2014
- Collection Class
- Paintings
- Medium
- oil on canvas
- Common Name
- Portrait of the Artist Francis Hayman
- Simple Name
- painting
- Period Classification
- George II (1727-1760); George III (1760-1811)
- Production Country
- England
- Production Person Initials
- Joshua
- Production Person Surname
- Reynolds (studio of)
- Production Year Low
- 1756
- Production Year High
- 1770
