HORACE HONE (A.R.A. 1754/6-1825) Portrait miniature of an unknown lady, circa 1780, wearing a white lace dress secured with pearl brooch at her corsage and blue shawl, black ribbon choker and lace cap in her powdered hair Signed with monogram on the obverse and dated 178 (3?) Watercolour on ivory Set in a gold mount with gilt-metal reverse Oval, 45 mm (2 in) high Exhibited: Comerford Collection at the Irish Architectural Archives, Dublin, 2009  Literature: The Comerford Collection: Portrait Miniatures, (privately published, Dublin, 2009) pp 8, 29 (# 90); Walter G. Strickland, A Dictionary of Irish Artists, 1913; Paul Caffrey, John Comerford and the Portrait Miniature in Ireland c. 1620-1850, Kilkenny Archaeological Society, 1999, p. 29, Number 46, illustrated in colour p. 36 Horace Hone, the second son of Nathaniel Hone R.A., was born in Frith Street, London, in 1756. He learned his art as a miniature painter in watercolour and enamel from his father, and at the age of 16, in 1722, he bagan to exhibit in the Royal Academy. He was elected an Associate in 1779. On the invitation of the Countess Temple, afterwards Marchioness of Buckingham, he went to Ireland in 1782 when Lord Temple was appointed to the Vice-royalty, and soon acquired a large and fashionable practice. This portrait was taken a year after his arrival in Ireland and would appear to be an early example of his work. After the Union, finding that his practice was declining and his fashionable sitters removing to London, he left and settled in London, taking a house in Dover Street, where for several years he continued to practice his profession successfully. While in Ireland he exhibited once to the Royal Academy, in 1795 when he was appointed miniature painter to the Prince of Wales; he now began again to exhibit, and his works continued to appear regularly until 1822.