John Trotter (painter)

John Theophilus Rawdon-Hastings by John Trotter

The first record of John Trotter appear in 1756, when his work was lauded by the Hibernian Journal while he was still a student in the Dublin Society's School. He spent a decade studying art in Italy. He returned to Ireland, establishing a studio at Stafford Street, Dublin from 1773, and later Jervis Street and Britain Street. He exhibited in Dublin with various groups, including the Society of Artists.[1] He best known for his portraits of military men such as John Theophilus Rawdon-Hastings.[2][3] One of his most noted works is a group portrait he executed for the boardroom of the Dublin Bluecoat school, which was most likely painted around 1779. Along with a self portrait of Trotter himself, the painting also depicts John Wilson the secretary of the school, J. Tudor, Alderman Trulock, Warner, Thomas Ivory, and Simon Vierpyl.[1][4]

He married fellow artist Marianne Hunter in December 1774. The couple had two daughters, Eliza H. and Mary, who were both artists.[5] After Marianne's death, he remarried. He died at his home at Britain Street in February 1792.[1]

Trotter's works have been featured in exhibitions such as the An Exhibition of 17th, 18th, 19th and 20th Century Irish Paintings at Gorry Gallery,[6] and the Exhibiting Art in Georgian Ireland at the Irish Georgian Society in 2018, which displayed a work by Trotter from a private collection, Portrait of an officer of an Irish Volunteer Regiment in a wooded landscape, holding a spontoon.