William Hoare of Bath, R.A.

Anonymous sale, Sotheby's London, 26 November 1998, lot 1

The medium has remained fresh. The blue paper has only discoloured very slightly. There are soft creases in evidence particularly within the lower section of the composition. The work has not been laid down. For further information regarding this lot please contact Mark Griffith-Jones (0207 293 5083) or Emmeline Hallmark (0207 293 5407) mark.griffithjones@sothebys.com emmeline.hallmark@sothebys.com
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

William Pitt, 1^st Earl of Chatham, was arguably the most striking figure on the English political stage during the eighteenth century. As a result of his own intellectual abilities and his extraordinary popularity he became the foremost man in the nation, despite the prejudice entertained against him by George II. Finally summoned by the King in 1756 to form a Ministry, Pitt himself took the office of Secretary of State for the South and was responsible for the re-organisation of the war effort, as the war had been dragging on unsuccessfully. As Minister of War he revived the spirit of the nation and inspired all those who worked under him. Such was his popularity that artists and in particular Hoare had to meet a large popular demand for his portraits.

It is known that William Pitt visited Bath regularly on account of his gout and this provided William Hoare with ample opportunity to draw his portrait. Letters dated from Bath 8th April and 3 May 1754 to Richard, 2nd Earl Temple imply that Chatham sat to Hoare in that year: 'I have reconsidered Mr Hoare's labours yesterday and I find it the very best thing he has yet done, in point of likeness.' This particular drawing represents one of the most frequently repeated images in Hoare's oeuvre (see J Kerslake, Early Georgian Portraits, 1977, pp. 45-49).