Portrait of Mr William Hunter of Kilburn Hall, Derbyshire
Portrait of Mr William Hunter of Kilburn Hall, Derbyshire
 who inherited the estate from his uncle (changing his name from Fletcher in 1795), but the figure depicted here looks younger than William Hunter Hunter who would have been thirty-two at this date. It appears likely that the present portrait was painted by one of the Sharples family of artists. Ellen Sharples (1769-1849) was married to the artist James Sharples (see cat. no.66). Their two children, James (1788-1839) and Rolinda (1793-1838), as well as James's son by his second marriage, Felix Sharples (1786-c.1830) all became artists. When the family moved to America in 1794, James's success depicting notable public figures such as George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton, meant that there was large demand for copies, and Ellen worked with her husband to provide these. On James's death, Ellen, James Junior and Rolinda all returned to Bristol.){kind=link}
Sharples Family, circa 1800
Portrait of Mr William Hunter of Kilburn Hall, Derbyshire
Half-length, wearing a blue coat
Inscribed on part of old backing attached to the backboard: W. Hunter/Kilborne and: Given to Caroline Brown Macham
Pastel
25.3 by 20.2 cm., 10 by 8 in.
The present portrait depicts a member of the Hunter family, of Kilburn Hall, Derbyshire. It has not as yet been possible to identify which William Hunter, as there appear to be several, but none, so far, appear to be the right age for our sitter, circa 1800. There is a William Hunter Hunter (1768-1833) who inherited the estate from his uncle (changing his name from Fletcher in 1795), but the figure depicted here looks younger than William Hunter Hunter who would have been thirty-two at this date.
It appears likely that the present portrait was painted by one of the Sharples family of artists. Ellen Sharples (1769-1849) was married to the artist James Sharples (see cat. no.66). Their two children, James (1788-1839) and Rolinda (1793-1838), as well as James's son by his second marriage, Felix Sharples (1786-c.1830) all became artists. When the family moved to America in 1794, James's success depicting notable public figures such as George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton, meant that there was large demand for copies, and Ellen worked with her husband to provide these. On James's death, Ellen, James Junior and Rolinda all returned to Bristol.