About this lot

Description

After John Hoppner, RA (British, 1758-1810) Portrait of Mrs Dorothea Jordan (1761-1816) as "Viola" in Twelfth Night oil on panel, oval 56 x 42cm (22 x 16in)
Provenance: From the collection of Brian Fothergill; Private collection, Cambridge Other Notes: Mrs. Jordan was reputedly the greatest comic actress of her day. In 1790 she became the mistress of HRH The Prince William, later King William IV, and bore him ten children. They lived happily together for twenty years until William was persuaded to leave her in favour of a suitable bride. In 1815 she retired to France, heavily in debt, and died in poverty at Saint-Cloud, Paris. In the present portrait in the play, Viola disguises herself as a man so she can be a page to the Duke of Orsino. Hoppner's original oil is at Kenwood House (the Iveagh Bequest).
Condition appears fine.

Back to lot listings