Last Updated on September 27, 2013 by Dennis
ROBERT HUNTER: (fl. 1750-1780), portrait painter, a native of Ulster, studied under the elder Pope, and had a considerable practice in Dublin about the middle of the eighteenth cen tury. He modelled his tone of colouring on the painting of old masters. His portraits were excellent likenesses, if not of the first rank in painting. He had an extensive practice until the arrival of Robert Home in 1780, who attracted the leaders of fashion. Hunter took a prominent part in the foundation of the Dublin Society of Artists, and was a frequent contributor to their exhibitions in Dublin. Many of his portraits were engraved in mezzotint, including John, Lord Nass, Simon, Earl Harcourt, now at Nuneham Park, Dr. Samuel Madden, John Wesley, painted in Dublin, and others.