This print of Mrs Jordan was one of three donated by art dealer and auctioneer, Fred Treasure in 1945.
The artist, John Hoppner RA (1758-1810), was the son of German immigrant parents. His mother was an attendant at the royal palace and George 111 showed an interest and patronage in the boy.
Hoppner became a chorister at the royal chapel but such were his artistic talents in 1775 he entered the Royal Academy winning the silver medal for drawing from life in 1778 and a gold for historical painting in 1782.
Although he loved landscape painting he turned to the lucrative business of portrait painting and in 1789 was appointed portrait painter to the Prince of Wales ( later George IV). It is said that his ill health gave him an irascible and spiteful nature.
Who Was Mrs Jordan?
His subject Mrs Jordan (her stage name) was born Dorothea Bland in Waterford, Ireland 1761 to an actress, Grace Phillips, and stagehand Francis Bland. When he married someone else Dorothea took her mother’s surname.
She made her stage debut it in Dublin as Phoebe in As You Like It in 1777 and her first London appearance in 1785. She had several illegitimate children with various lovers before becoming mistress in 1790 to the Duke of Clarence, later William IV and had 10 children by him.
Mrs Jordan – a print by artist John Hoppner RA (1758-1810)
The children took the name FitzClarence. She supported the duke before he became king as he had ‘champagne tastes but little money’ and she was a highly successful actress. They parted after 20 years and she was devastated although then she received a stipend from him.
Dorothea died in poverty in Saint-Cloud, France after being defrauded by her eldest daughter and son-in-law.
More information about the Lytham St Annes Art Collection can be found in the on-line catalogue: www.lythamstannesartcollection.org.