Self-Portrait

The painter was the third son of architect George Dance the Elder (1700-1768). He added the ‘Holland’ suffix later in life. Dance-Holland studied art under Francis Hayman (c. 1708-1776), and like many contemporaries also studied in Italy. He painted several history and classical paintings, and he was influenced by the portrait style of Pompeo Batoni.

In England Dance-Holland became a successful portrait painter, one of his most famous portraits is of ‘Captain Cook’ (1766).

With Hayman and his architect brother George Dance the Younger (1741-1825), he was one of the founding members of the Royal Academy in 1768.

In 1790 he retired from being an artist, became an MP, and was created a baronet.