Sir George Hayter (17 December 1792 – 18 January 1871) was an English painter, specialising in and large works involving sometimes several hundred individual portraits. Queen Victoria appreciated his merits and appointed Hayter her Principal Painter in Ordinary and also awarded him a Knight Bachelor in 1841.
Early life
Hayter was the son of
Charles Hayter (1761–1835), a miniature painter and popular drawing-master and teacher of perspective who was appointed Professor of Perspective and Drawing to Princess Charlotte and published a well-known introduction to perspective and other works.
Initially tutored by his father, he went to the Royal Academy Schools early in 1808, but in the same year, after a disagreement about his art studies, ran away to sea as a Midshipman in the Royal Navy. His father secured his release, and they came to an agreement that Hayter should assist him while pursuing his own studies.[Barbara Coffey Bryant, "Hayter, Sir George (1792–1871)", Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 accessed 7 June 2007]
In 1809 he secretly married Sarah Milton, a lodger at his father's house (he was 15 or 16, she 28), the arrangement remaining secret until around 1811.
At the Royal Academy Schools he studied under Henry Fuseli, and in 1815 was appointed Painter of Miniatures and Portraits by Princess Charlotte. Hayter was awarded the British Institution’s premium for history painting for the Prophet Ezra (1815; Downton Castle), purchased by Richard Payne Knight.
Around 1816 his wife left him, for reasons which are not apparent. He subsequently began a relationship with Louisa Cauty, daughter of Sir William Cauty, with whom he lived openly for the next decade and who bore him two children, Angelo and Louisa.
Travel to Italy
Encouraged by his patron, John Russell, 6th Duke of Bedford, he travelled to Italy to study in 1816. There he met
Antonio Canova, whose studio he attended while painting his portrait, where he absorbed Canova's classical style. He is also believed to have learned sculpture from Canova at this time. Canova was Perpetual Principal of the Accademia di San Luca (Rome's premier artistic institution) and doubtless put Hayter forward for honorary membership on the strength of his painting
The Tribute Money which was very favourably received in Rome. Hayter thereby became the Academy's youngest ever member.
Historical portraiture
(1800–1891) showing from left to right
Charles Hayter (father of John and George), John Hayter,
Edwin Landseer and George Hayter (Shipley Art Gallery]] Returning to London in 1818, Hayter practised as a portrait painter in oils and history painter. Dubbed ‘The Phoenix’ by William Beckford, Hayter showed a pomposity that irritated his fellow artists, but he mixed freely with many aristocratic families. His unconventional domestic life (separated from his wife, yet living with his mistress) set him apart from official Academy circles: he was never elected to the Royal Academy.
)]]Hayter was most productive and innovative during the 1820s. George Agar-Ellis (later Lord Dover) commissioned The Trial of Queen Caroline depicting George IV's attempt to divorce Queen Caroline in the House of Lords in 1820 (exh. Cauty's Great Rooms, 80-82 Pall Mall, 1823; London, National Portrait Gallery, London); painted on a large scale (2.33×2.66 m), Hayter's first (and most successful) contemporary history painting revealed a taste for high drama effectively realised. In the Trial of William, Lord Russell, in the Old Bailey in 1683 (1825; Woburn Abbey) Hayter celebrated John Russell's ancestry, in a work reminiscent of fashionable tableaux vivants of the country-house set.
Return to the Continent
In 1826 Hayter settled in Italy.
The Banditti of Kurdistan Assisting Georgians in Carrying off Circassian Women (untraced), completed in Florence for John Proby, 1st Earl of Carysfort (exhibited British Institution 1829), demonstrated Hayter's assimilation of the style and exotic subject-matter of contemporary French Romantic art.
In 1827 his mistress, Louisa Cauty, died after poisoning herself with arsenic. Although it was apparently an accident, in a bid for attention, it was widely assumed that he had driven her to suicide, and he was forced by the scandal to move from Florence to Rome.
By late 1828 he was in Paris, where his portraits of English society members (some exhibited at the Salon in 1831) were stylistically akin to the work of recent French portrait painters such as François Gérard.
Royal patronage
1831 Hayter returned to England. His grandiose plan to paint the first sitting after the passage of the Reform Bill resulted in his painting
Moving the Address to the Crown on the Opening of the First Reformed Parliament in the Old House of Commons, 5 February 1833 (1833–1843; London, N.P.G.), for which he executed nearly 400 portrait studies in oil. Hayter was an ardent supporter of the reform movement and this painting was not commissioned but to all intents and purposes a labour of love. It occupied him for ten years with no guarantee of financial reward. This is one of the last images executed of the interior of the old House of Commons before its destruction in the fire of 1834. The painting was finally purchased by the government for the nation in 1854, 20 years after it was started.
Having painted the young Princess Victoria (1832–3; destr.; oil sketch, Brit. Royal Col.), Hayter was not a surprising choice as the new Queen's 'Portrait and Historical Painter'. But on the death of Sir David Wilkie in 1841 Hayter's appointment as Principal Painter in Ordinary to the Queen caused some annoyance at the Royal Academy as this appointment had historically been the preserve of the President, then Sir Martin Archer Shee.
In 1842 Hayter was knighted. He painted several royal ceremonies including Queen Victoria's coronation of 1838 and marriage of 1840 and also the Christening of the Prince of Wales of 1843 (all Brit. Royal Col.). He also painted several royal portraits including his most well-known work the State Portrait of the new Queen Victoria. Several versions of this portrait were done, with the assistance of the artist's son Angelo, to be sent as diplomatic gifts. Hayter's active period at court was short-lived, however, because Albert preferred German painters such as Franz Xaver Winterhalter.
Several significant examples of Hayter's works from this period remain a part of the Royal Collection, and both the State Portrait and Wedding painting are among those displayed to the public at Buckingham Palace. There is also a full-scale version of the State Portrait in the National Portrait Gallery and smaller copy at Holyrood Palace.
Later years
Now in his fifties, Hayter struggled with his health and debts and he sold his
and other art works at Christie's in May 1845. He planned to move back to the continent but could not after he received severe leg injuries in July 1845 train accident.
His wife, Sarah, died in 1844, and on 12 May 1846 he married (Helena) Cecilia Hyde, née Burke (1791/2–1860). After she died in 1860, Hayter married Martha Carey, née Miller (1818–1867) on 23 April 1863.
By the mid-1840s Hayter's portrait style was considered old-fashioned. He adjusted his type of history painting to suit the more literal taste of the early Victorian era (e.g. Wellington Viewing Napoleon's Effigy at Madame Tussaud's; destr. 1925; engraving, 1854).]]Hayter painted several large religious paintings including two depicting important Reformist events, Bishop Latimer Preaching at Paul's Cross and The Martyrdom of Bishops Ridley and Latimer (exh. 1855), both of which were given to Princeton University Art Museum, USA in 1984. He painted several biblical scenes from the Old and New Testament, among them The Angels Ministering to Christ in 1849 (V&A) and Joseph Interpreting the Baker's Dream in 1854 (Lancaster City Museum). He also produced fluent landscape watercolours (many of Italian views), etchings (he published a volume in 1833), decorative designs and sculpture.
On 18 January 1871 Hayter died at his home in London. He was buried in St Marylebone cemetery in East Finchley.
His younger brother, John Hayter (1800–1895), was also an artist, known chiefly as a portrait draughtsman in chalks and crayons and his younger sister Anne worked as a miniaturist. Some sources say that the influential printmaking Stanley William Hayter was a direct descendant from John Hayter,[*Innovation in printmaking: Obituary of Mr S W Hayter, The Times, London, May 7, 1988] although others say the ancestor was Sir George Hayter himself.[ Visitation of England and Wales, Volume 17 1911, ed. Frederick Arthur Crisp, reprinted 1997 by Heritage Books Inc.] What is known for certain is that the French painter and writer, Jean René Bazaine was a great great grandson of George Hayter, through his eldest daughter Georgiana Elizabeth, who married Pierre-Dominique Bazaine older brother of Marshal Bazaine.[ Jean Bazaine: Couleurs et Mots: le cherche midi éditeur, 1997 (entretiens avec Paul Ricœur et Henri Maldiney)]
Gallery
Princess Victoria and Dash by George Hayter.jpg| Princess Victoria painted 1833
Dronning victoria.jpg|Detail from State Portrait of Queen Victoria 1837
Queen Victoria-by George Hayter.jpg| State Portrait of Queen Victoria 1837
Sir George Hayter (1792-1871) - The Christening of The Prince of Wales, 25 January 1842 - RCIN 403501 - Royal Collection.jpg| The Christening of the Prince of Wales in St. George's Chapel, Windsor 25 Jan 1842
Coronation of Queen Victoria 28 June 1838 by Sir George Hayter.jpg| Coronation of Queen Victoria 28 June 1838
Victoria Marriage01.jpg| Marriage of Victoria and Albert, 10 February 1840
Queen victoria throne hi.jpg| Queen Victoria Enthroned in the House of Lords 1838
Queen Victoria in Coronation robes 1838 (copy of original in Guildhall).jpg| Queen Victoria seated on the throne in the House of Lords 1838 (copy commissioned by Madamme Tussauds)
Queen Victoria taking the Coronation Oath by George Hayter 1838.jpg| Queen Victoria taking the Coronation Oath 1838
Queen Victoria Taking the Coronation Oath, June 28, 1838, by George Hayter.jpg| Queen Victoria taking the Coronation Oath
Trial of Queen Caroline by Sir George Hayter.jpg| The Trial of Queen Caroline in the House of Lords 1820 (188 portraits), completed 1823
Caroline Amelia Elizabeth of Brunswick by Sir George Hayter.jpg| Queen Caroline, wife of George IV during her trial, 1820
The Trial of William Lord Russell in 1683 by GH - Ferens Art Gallery.jpg| The Trial of William Lord Russell in 1683, 1825
The House of Commons, 1833 by Sir George Hayter.jpg| The House of Commons, 1833 (375 portraits)
Latimer preaching at St.Paul's cross by Sir George Hayter 1855.jpg| Latimer preaching at St.Paul's cross, 1855
The Martydom of Ridley and Latimer by Sir George Hayter 1855.jpg| The Martydom of Ridley and Latimer, 1855
Robert Jenkinson, 2nd Earl of Liverpool by Sir George Hayter.jpg| Robert Jenkinson, 2nd Earl of Liverpool and Prime Minister, 1823 (for Trial of Queen Caroline picture)
Thomas Graham, Baron Lynedoch by Sir George Hayter.jpg| General Thomas Graham, 1st Baron Lynedoch 1823
William Spencer Cavendish, 6th Duke of Devonshire, c.1822-86 GH.jpg| William Cavendish, 6th Duke of Devonshire c.1822-26
William Spencer Cavendish, 6th Duke of Devonshire.jpg| William Cavendish, 6th Duke of Devonshire c.1822-26
Duchess of Kent by Sir George Hayter 1835.jpg|Duchess of Kent (mother of Queen Victoria), 1835
Antonio Canova, by George Hayter.jpg| Antonio Canova painted in 1817
Portrait of Queen Louise of Belgium (1812-1850), Windsor 1837.jpg| Queen Louise of Belgium, Windsor 1837
Portrait of Sir Edwin Henry Landseer by George Hayter 1825.jpg| Edwin Landseer drawn in 1825
Lord Richard Cavendish as a boy by Sir George Hayter painted in 1825.jpg| Lord Richard Cavendish as a boy, painted in 1825
Portrait of a young lady in an interior (George Hayter, 1826).jpg| Portrait of a young lady in an interior 1826
Portrait of a lady by George Hayter (Naples 1828).jpeg| Portrait of a Lady, Naples 1828
Lady Stuart de Rothesay and her daughters by George Hayter.jpg| Lady Stuart de Rothesay and her daughters, Paris 1830
1stLordStuart de Rothesay.jpg| Lord Stuart de Rothesay, British Ambassador to France, Paris 1830
The Hon. Charlotte Stuart and The Hon. Louisa Stuart, 1830 by George Hayter.jpg| The Hon. Charlotte and The Hon. Louisa Stuart, daughters of Baron Stuart de Rothesay, Paris 1830
Charlotte, Countess de la Bourdonnaye (1795-1875) 1830 (Paris).jpg| Charlotte, Countess de la Bourdonnaye (1795–1875) Paris 1830
File:Portrait of Lady Caroline Montagu in Byronic Costume by George Hayter, 1831, oil on canvas, view 1 - Chazen Museum of Art - DSC02190.JPG| Portrait of Lady Caroline Montagu, 1831
Saith Satoor and Ali Hassan Bey 1831 V&A by GH.jpg| Saith Satoor and Ali Hassan Bey, 1831. Saith Satoor was the protégé of Abbas Mirza, Crown Prince of Persia
Sofia Kiselyova (Potocki)0.jpg| Zofia Kisielew, daughter of Count Stanislav Potocki 1831
George Hayter - Portrait of Countess Yelizaveta Vorontsova - WGA11228.jpg| Countess Elizabeth Vorontsova (1792–1880) 1832
Caroline Norton (1808-77) society beauty and author by GH, Chatsworth Coll..jpg| The Hon. Mrs. Caroline Norton, society beauty and author, 1832
Louisa Barbara Catherine Philips, Countess of Lichfield (c.1800-1879) with two of her Children, Thomas George Anson, 2nd Earl of Lichfield MP (1825-1892) and Lady Harriet Frances Maria Anson, Lady Vernon (1827-1898) by Sir George Hayter.png| Louisa Philips, Countess of Lichfield (c.1800-1879) with two of her Children, Thomas George Anson and Lady Harriet Frances Maria Anson, painted in 1832
File:Lord John Russell (Hayter).png| Lord John Russell, 1832
File:Lord Melbourne (Hayter).jpeg| Lord Melbourne, 1838
Alfred, Count D'Orsay by Sir George Hayter.jpg| Alfred Count D'Orsay, 1839
Charlesgrey2.jpg| Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey Prime Minister 1830–1834
PORTRAIT OF WILLIAM LAMB, 2ND VISCOUNT MELBOURNE, PC, FRS 1779-1848 BY SIR GEORGE HAYTER.jpg| Lord Melbourne Prime Minister 1834, 1835–1841
ROBERT LAWRENCE PEMBERTON OF BAINBRIDGE HOUSE WITH HIS MOTHER.jpg|Robert Lawrence Pemberton of Bainbridge House with his mother
PORTRAIT OF ANNE, DAUGHTER OF HON W.F. ELPHINSTONE.jpg| Anne Elphinstone 1835
PORTRAIT OF LADY ELIZABETH HARCOURT 1840.jpg| Lady Elizabeth Harcourt, eldest daughter of 2nd Earl of Lucan and wife of George Harcourt
John William Montagu (1811–1884), 7th Earl of Sandwich as a Young Man Hinchingbrooke House 1832 GH.jpg| John Montagu, 7th Earl of Sandwich (1811–1884), 7th Earl of Sandwich
John Charles Spencer, 3rd Earl Spencer by Sir George Hayter.jpg| John Spencer, 3rd Earl Spencer (1782–1845)
William, 2nd Earl of Craven 1809-66 by GH.jpg| William Craven, 2nd Earl of Craven
Lady Louisa Stuart by George Hayter.jpg| Lady Louisa Stuart at the age of ninety-three, sketch in oils
John, 6th Duke of Bedford (1766-1839).jpg| John Russell, 6th Duke of Bedford (1766–1839)
6thDukeOfBedford.jpg| John Russell, 6th Duke of Bedford (1766–1839)
George Bridgeman 2nd Earl of Bradford by Sir George Hayter.jpg| George Bridgeman, 2nd Earl of Bradford
Francis Baring, 1st Baron Northbrook by Sir George Hayter.jpg| Francis Baring, 1st Baron Northbrook (1833) for House of Commons picture
Sir Robert Harry Inglis, 2nd Bt by Sir George Hayter.jpg| Sir Robert Inglis, 2nd Baronet
Portrait study of Admiral Sir Edward Codrington 1835.jpg| Admiral Sir Edward Codrington 1835
File:Sir George Hayter (1792-1871) - Leopold I, King of the Belgians (1790-1865) - RCIN 404881 - Royal Collection.jpg| Leopold I of Belgium, 1837
John Campbell, 2nd Marquess of Breadalbane by Sir George Hayter.jpg| John Campbell, 2nd Marquess of Breadalbane, 1833
John Campbell, 2nd Marquess of Breadalbane.jpg| John Campbell, 2nd Marquess of Breadalbane, 1834
Thomas Brunton.jpg|Thomas Brunton in 1832 (inventor of studded-link, marine chain cable), friend of the artist
The Duke of Wellington (1839) by George Hayter.jpg| The Duke of Wellington (1839), for the House of Commons picture
Arthur Wellesley Duke of Wellington (1769-1852) by Sir George Hayter.jpg| The Duke of Wellington
John Jonson, Lord Mayor of London in 1845 by George Hayter.jpg| Rt Hon John Johnson, Lord Mayor of London 1845
Robertson-Bruce Sir James 2nd Bt Royal Horse Artillery by Sir GH 1820.jpg| Sir James Robertson-Bruce 2nd Bt painted in 1820
Robertson-Bruce Mrs Ellen by Sir GH 1820.jpg| Mrs Ellen Robertson-Bruce painted in 1820
Portrait of a boy.jpg|Portrait of a boy
The Angels Ministering to Christ 1849 V&A GH.jpg| The Angels Ministering to Christ, 1849
Joseph interpreting the Chief Baker's Dream by Sir George Hayter 1854.jpg| Joseph Interpreting the Dream of the Chief Baker, 1854
Amy Emily Sarah Fitzroy by George Hayter 1858.jpg| Amy Emily Sarah Fitzroy, 1858
Hemsted Park, three studies with trees and storm clouds by George Hayter.jpg| Hampstead Heath, three studies with trees and storm clouds, 1856
See also
Further reading
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R. Ormond: Early Victorian Portraits, 2 vols, London N.P.G. cat. (London, 1973)
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Drawings by Sir George and John Hayter (exh. cat. by B. Coffey Bryant, London, Morton Morris, 1982) incl.
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R. Walker: Regency Portraits, 2 vols, London N.P.G. cat. (London, 1986)
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O. Millar: The Victorian Pictures in the Collection of Her Majesty the Queen, 2 vols (Cambridge, 1992)
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B. Bryant: Sir George Hayter's Drawings at Duncombe Park: Family Ties and a "Melancholy Event", Apollo, cxxxv (1992), pp. 240–50 incl.
External links
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A portrait of , engraved by John Cochran for Fisher's Drawing Room Scrap Book, 1837 with a poetical illustration by Letitia Elizabeth Landon.
