Hone, Nathaniel

, was born in Dublin in 1767, and came to England in the early part of life, painting in several parts of the country, particularly at York, where he married a lady of some property. A short time after his marriage, he settled in London, and practised with reputation, both as a painter in oil, and in miniature, particularly enamel; and after the death of Zincke, ranked among the principal artists of his day in that branch. He was chosen one of the members of the royal academy at its first institution; but took offence at one of his pictures, intended as a satire on sir Joshua Reynolds, being rejected from the exhibition. Another was also objected to, as containing a very profane allusion, which he altered with a substance easily washed away, and the picture was again exhibited in its original state at an exhibition of his own, in 1775. As a painter in oil, he was by no means an inferior artist, yet the colouring of his pictures was too red for the carnations, and the shadows not sufficiently clear. A few years before his death, he removed to Rathboneplace. He died Aug. 14, 1784, and was buried at Hendon, where five of his children lie. ³