Francis Hutchinson (d. 1807) (traditionally called John Hatch of Lissen Hall)

Francis Hutchinson (d. 1807), depicted in this 1747 Batoni portrait — traditionally but incorrectly called John Hatch of Lissen Hall — represents one of the earlier Grand Tour commissions in Batoni's career, dating from a time when his portrait practice was still developing. The 'traditionally called' qualification signals a misidentification in the title that has since been corrected, a common situation with eighteenth-century portraits whose identifying papers were separated from the canvas over time. The National Trust holding places this in a British country house context. The 1747 date makes this one of Batoni's earlier Grand Tour portraits, painted before the format reached its full maturity and standardization in the 1750s.

Oil on canvas from Batoni's earlier portrait period showing a slightly less assured handling than his mature work of the 1760s–1770s. The composition and palette are developing toward the warmth and precision of his mature style. The misidentification in the traditional title is a reminder of the archival challenges in attributing names to faces in pre-photographic portraiture.