Artwork
Richard Humphreys, the Boxer
Richard Humphreys, the Boxer is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist John Hoppner. It dates from 1792 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The painting thereby represents both an individual likeness and a broader assertion of boxing as a dignified pursuit worthy of fine-art commemoration.
John Hoppner's 1792 oil portrait depicts the bare-knuckle boxer Richard Humphreys, presenting him in the guise of a classical athlete rather than a mere pugilist. The work belongs to portraiture yet incorporates the iconography of combat sport, showing Humphreys as an athlete. By framing a contemporary prize-fighter within the visual vocabulary of the heroic athletic figure, Hoppner elevated the subject's status, aligning him with the classical tradition of the idealized competitor.
The painting thereby represents both an individual likeness and a broader assertion of boxing as a dignified pursuit worthy of fine-art commemoration.
Technique & Style
John Hoppner executed the portrait in oil on canvas, a standard support for late-18th-century British portraiture, and the work measures roughly 141.6 by 112.4 cm. The painting depicts the boxer in a realistic pose, with careful attention to musculature and the texture of skin rendered through layered glazes of oil paint. Hoppner's handling emphasizes chiaroscuro, modeling the figure against a dark background, while the composition follows the conventions of elite portraiture by presenting the sitter in a dignified, almost heroic manner. The canvas is in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
History & Provenance
The work is held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, among its holdings of British portraits, under the title Richard Humphreys, the Boxer. A specific accession number is not given in the available sources. The painting is regarded as a notable example of John Hoppner's portraiture, though specific exhibition records and dates are not provided in the cited sources.
Overview
John Hoppner's 1792 oil painting, Richard Humphreys, the Boxer, captures the likeness of a notable athlete. This portrait, rendered in oil paint, depicts the subject in a dynamic pose, emphasizing his profession. The artwork is currently part of the collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, offering a glimpse into late 18th-century British portraiture and the era's sporting culture.
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Artist & collection
Artist
John Hoppner was an English painter, much influenced by Joshua Reynolds, who achieved fame as a colourist.
The Hoppner Children
The Sackville Children
Mrs. John Garden (Ann Garden, 1769–1842) and Her Children, John (1796–1854) and Ann Margaret (born 1793)
Lady Cunliffe
Mrs. Richard Bache (Sarah Franklin, 1743–1808)
Mrs. Richard Brinsley Sheridan (Hester Jane Ogle, 1775/76–1817) and Her Son (Charles Brinsley Sheridan, 1796–1843)
Major Thomas Pechell (1753–1826)
Mrs. Whaley (died 1798, Isle of Man)
