Sir William Fordyce (1724–1792)

This portrait of Sir William Fordyce depicts a Scottish physician who practiced in London and was known for his philanthropic activities. Fordyce represented the Georgian ideal of the socially responsible medical professional. Dance's portraits combined the formal conventions of Grand Manner portraiture with a cooler, more austere palette and sculptural figure treatment that reflected his years studying in Rome under the influence of Pompeo Batoni.

The physician's portrait is rendered with the professional dignity appropriate to a successful London doctor, Dance's technique capturing both medical authority and personal benevolence.