Artwork
Prince Hoare
Prince Hoare is an ink print by the Romanticist artist William Daniell. It dates from 1814 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
The work titled *Prince Hoare* is a black‑and‑white lithographic print produced in 1814 by English artist William Daniell. Executed in a single‑plane profile, the image presents a neatly coiffed gentleman in a high‑collared coat and loosely tied cravat, his jawline sharply rendered and his expression solemn.
Subject & Meaning
The portrait depicts the eighteenth‑century dramatist and painter Prince Hoare, identified by the inscription beneath the figure. By isolating the sitter in profile, Daniell emphasizes Hoare’s dignified bearing and the intellectual gravitas associated with his artistic career.
Technique & Style
Created with lithography, a process that allows the artist to draw directly onto a smooth limestone surface with greasy ink, the print showcases Daniell’s economical line work. The stark contrasts and minimal shading highlight the medium’s capacity for rapid reproduction while retaining the immediacy of a hand‑drawn sketch.
History & Provenance
William Daniell, renowned for his landscape and marine scenes, produced the print during a prolific period that followed his collaborative venture with his uncle Thomas Daniell on the illustrated series *Oriental Scenery*. After completing *A Voyage Round Great Britain*, a collection of coastal watercolours, Daniell was elected a Royal Academician in 1822, cementing his status within the British art establishment.
Context
The early nineteenth century saw lithography emerge as a modern means of disseminating images, offering artists a faster alternative to engraving. Daniell’s adoption of the technique reflects his engagement with contemporary innovations and his desire to reach a broader audience beyond the limited editions of traditional prints.
Artist & collection
Artist
William Daniell (1769 – 16 August 1837) was an English painter and printmaker who specialised in landscape painting and marine art.
