Unknown man, formerly known as Peter Collinson

1 portrait

© National Portrait Gallery, London

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Unknown man, formerly known as Peter Collinson

by Nathaniel Hone
watercolour and bodycolour on ivory, 1765
1 3/8 in. x 1 in. (35 mm x 25 mm) oval
Transferred from National Gallery, 1994
Primary Collection
NPG 6283

Sitterback to top

  • Peter Collinson (1694-1768), Naturalist and antiquary. Sitter associated with 1 portrait.

Artistback to top

  • Nathaniel Hone (1718-1784), Portrait and miniature painter. Artist or producer associated with 56 portraits, Sitter in 9 portraits.

Linked publicationsback to top

  • Ingamells, John, National Portrait Gallery: Mid-Georgian Portraits 1760-1790, 2004, p. 527
  • Saywell, David; Simon, Jacob, Complete Illustrated Catalogue, 2004, p. 697
  • Walker, Richard, Miniatures: 300 Years of the English Miniature, 1998, p. 65 Read entry

    Peter Collinson, a woollen-draper by trade, owned a famous botanic garden at Mill Hill, where he specialsed in North American plants. This portrait is the work of Nathaniel Hone, 'a tall upright large man, with a broad-brimmed hat and a lapelled coat buttoned up to his stock' (Smith 1829, I, p 118), who often painted miniatures small enough to set into rings and bracelets. The ornate frame surrounding NPG 6283 suggests its use as a brooch. Later Hone turned to full-scale portraits. Enamel and oil self-portraits are also in the Gallery (e.g. NPG 1878).

Subject/Themeback to top

Events of 1765back to top

Current affairs

George Grenville is dismissed as Prime Minister. He is succeeded by Charles Watson-Wentworth, 2nd Marquess of Rockingham.
Isle of Man is brought under British control.
Stamp Act requires that printed materials in the colonies, such as legal documents and newspapers, are produced on paper made in London carrying an embossed revenue stamp.



Art and science

Nevil Maskelyne becomes Astronomer Royal.
Writer Samuel Johnson publishes his edition of Shakespeare.
Inventor James Watt makes a breakthrough in the development of the steam engine by constructing a model with a separate condenser.
Judge and politician William Blackstone publishes his influential work Commentaries on the Laws of England.

International

Robert Clive secures the rights for the East India Company to collect taxes in Bengal from Mughal Emperor Shah Alam.
American campaigners against the Stamp Act organise themselves as the Sons of Liberty in Massachusetts and New York.


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