Stephen Slaughter

Stephen Slaughter (baptised 1697, died 1765) was an English portrait painter.^[1] He spent periods of his career in Dublin, where he introduced the English style of portrait painting.^[2]

Life

He was the son of Stephen and Judith Slaughter, was baptised in London, and had the artist Judith Lewis as a sister.^[1] It has been claimed that John Lewis (fl. 1737–1769), also an artist, was Slaughter's brother-in-law; but it is disputed whether Lewis was the husband of Judith Slaughter.^[3][4] Slaughter studied under Godfrey Kneller from 1712.^[1] In 1720, on the account of Joseph Highmore, he was at the London academy of Louis Cheron and John Vanderbank.^[5]

There followed a long period abroad, in France and Flanders. Returning in 1732–1733 to London, Slaughter then set up in Dublin during 1734, paying a longer visit in the 1740s.^[6] Slaughter influenced in particular Thomas Frye, as did James Latham.^[7]

In 1745, Slaughter became Surveyor of the King's Pictures, in succession to Peter Walton.^[1] From 1748 he spent time on picture restoration.^[6] On 14 July 1765, two months after his death, he was elected to the Accademia del Disegno, with William Oram.^[8]

Portraits

Portrait of Major General Richard St George, 1744, by Stephen Slaughter

• 1736 Sir Hans Sloane^[9]
• 1737 Hon. John Spencer^[9]
• 1737 Lady Georgiana Spencer, wife of the Hon. John Spencer^[9]
• 1742 Sir Robert Walpole^[1]
• 1744 William Stewart, 1st Earl of Blessington^[10]
• 1744 Major General Richard St George^[11]
• 1744 Henry Boyle, 1st Earl of Shannon^[12]
• 1744 John Hoadly^[9]
• 1753 Sir George Lee^[13]
• Nathaniel Kane^[9]