Sir Nathaniel Dance-Holland, 1st Baronet (8 May 1735 – 15 October 1811) was a notable English portrait painter and later a politician.
The third son of architect George Dance the Elder, Dance (he added the 'Holland' suffix later in life) studied art under Francis Hayman, and like many contemporaries also studied in Italy. There he met Angelica Kauffmann, and painted several historic and classical paintings.
On his return to England, he became a successful portrait painter. With Hayman and his architect brother George Dance the Younger, he was one of the founder members of the Royal Academy in 1768.
He was commissioned to paint King George III and his queen, plus Captain James Cook and actor David Garrick. His group portrait The Pybus Family (1769) is in the collection of the National Gallery of Victoria, Australia.[1]
In 1790, he gave up his artistic career and became Member of Parliament for East Grinstead in Sussex. He served this seat until 1802 when he moved to Great Bedwyn, serving until 1806. In 1807 he returned to East Grinstead, serving until his death in 1811. He was made a baronet in 1800, which became extinct upon his death.
He was married to Harriet, the widow of Thomas Dummer (died 1781), for whom his brother had designed the house at Cranbury Park, near Winchester.[2] They lived at Little Wittenham Manor in Berkshire (now Oxfordshire).[3] His wife survived him until 1825.[2]
His nephew, Sir Nathaniel Dance (1748–1827), was a well-known commander of British East India Company ships.
| Parliament of Great Britain | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Richard Ford George Medley |
Member of Parliament for East Grinstead 1790–1800 With: William Hamilton Nisbet 1790–96 James Strange from 1796 |
Succeeded by (Parliament of Great Britain abolished) |
| Parliament of the United Kingdom | ||
| Preceded by (self, in Parliament of Great Britain) |
Member of Parliament for East Grinstead 1801–1802 With: James Strange |
Succeeded by Sir Henry Strachey, Bt Daniel Giles |
| Preceded by John Wodehouse Sir Robert Buxton, Bt |
Member of Parliament for Great Bedwyn 1802–1806 With: Sir Robert Buxton, Bt |
Succeeded by James Henry Leigh Viscount Stopford |
| Preceded by Sir Henry Strachey, Bt Daniel Giles |
Member of Parliament for East Grinstead 1807–1811 With: Charles Rose Ellis |
Succeeded by Richard Wellesley Charles Rose Ellis |