Horace Walpole

Horatio Walpole, 4th Earl of Orford (1717 - 1797) was an English art historian, man of letters, antiquarian and Whig politician. He is now largely remembered for Strawberry Hill, the home he built in Twickenham, south-west London where he revived the Gothic style some decades before his Victorian successors, and for his Gothic novel, The Castle of Otranto. Dance was an architect, draughtsman and founder member of the Royal Academy. This portrait comes from a series of chalk portraits that he did of his friends, 72 of which were engraved and published (1808-1814) by Daniell who was an engraver as well as a reknown landscape painter. Some light scattered foxing. Accompanied by original text description.