Christopher William Hunneman

Christopher William Hunnemann or Christopher Wilhelm Hanneman (May 1755 – 21 November 1793) was a British portrait painter.

Christopher William Hunnemann
Born	May 1755 (1755-05)
Died	21 November 1793(1793-11-21) (aged 38) Soho, London

Life

Sir John Soane by Christopher William Hunneman in 1776

Christopher Wilhelm Hanneman was born in May 1755 presumably near Hanover where his father was a court physician. He joined the Royal Academy in December 1773 and three years later he was awarded the academy's silver medal. He established himself as a portrait painter creating a half length portrait for Sir John Soane in 1776 (Some say 1779^[1]), which he called Portrait of a Young Artist.^[2] He gained work copying paintings in the collection of George III including work by Thomas Gainsborough.^[2]

From 1777 he was a habitual exhibitor of his work every year at the Royal Academy. The work was usually in miniature but could be in oils or crayon.^[1]

Hunneman was living in Frith Street in Soho in 1790.^[3] He died on 21 November 1793 in Soho. Causes of death are unclear, though some contemporary reports mention he died masturbating.^[4]