William Markham was a scholar, churchman and courtier. He became headmaster of Westminster school in 1753, a post he held for 11 years. He was appointed chaplain to George II in 1756, and in 1771-6 acted as preceptor (chief tutor) to the two eldest sons of George III – George, Prince of Wales and Frederick, Duke of York. In 1777, he was appointed Archbishop of York. His obituary in The Gentleman’s Magazine observed: ‘His religion was a religion of the mind; practised in all the concerns of life, without austerity, and free from ostentation’.

This miniature is a copy by Henry Bone (1755-1834) of John Hoppner’s oil painting which was exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1799 and is now in the Royal Collection (RCIN 400563).

Bone was born in Truro in Cornwall, the son of a woodcarver and cabinet maker, and began his artistic career painting on china for local manufacturers. In about 1779, he moved to London, where he became established as one of the most outstanding enamellists of his day. His children and grandchildren also became miniaturists. He painted designs for lockets, watches and jewellery. He was principally a copyist and his large-scale enamels were based on paintings by Old Masters and leading contemporary artists. He exhibited over 240 items at the Royal Academy between 1781 and 1832, when his eyesight began to fail. He was appointed enamel painter to the future George IV in 1801, before holding the same position to George III from 1809, and later George IV and William IV. Bone could obtain top prices for his work – in 1811 he received 2,200 guineas for his framed Bacchus and Ariadne. He was described by a contemporary as a ‘worthy, kind, liberal and affectionate man’.

The miniature is signed on the lower right HBone, and inscribed by the artist on the reverse in black paint: Doctor Markham / Archbishop of York / Henry Bone pinx.t Jany 1800 / after John Hoppner R.A. / portrait painter to H.R.H. the Prince of Wales.