George Dance (c.1694–1768), Architect

George Dance the Elder, painted around 1773, was the artist's own father, who served as Clerk of the City Works—the professional responsible for maintaining and designing the City of London's public buildings—and designed Mansion House, the official residence of the Lord Mayor. The paternal portrait carries obvious autobiographical weight: Nathaniel Dance-Holland adding 'Holland' to his surname after inheriting a fortune, while his father had built a distinguished architectural career without such windfall. The portrait of a notable architect by a notable painter, within the same family, documents the remarkable concentration of artistic talent in Georgian London's professional classes.

The filial portrait has a personal warmth that distinguishes it from Dance's professional commissions, the aged architect rendered with affectionate detail and a softer touch than the artist typically employed.