Johan ZoffanyThree Daughters of John, 3rd Earl of Bute c.1763-4

John Stuart, 3rd Earl of Bute commissioned this portrait of three of his daughters as a pair with one of three of his sons (Tate, T07863). This is the only known pair of portraits of children by Zoffany. The artist came to England from his native Germany in 1760 and soon found important patrons, including the actor David Garrick and the Earl of Bute. He established himself in London as the leading painter of lively conversation pieces, which were greatly admired for their relaxed and charming informality. Zoffany’s strengths lay in his ability to portray figures in vivid interaction, often posed out of doors in convincing landscape settings; characteristics that are clearly apparent in this portrait… (read more)