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Dorothy Jordan (1761–1816), affectionately known as Dora or Mrs Jordan, was one of London’s leading comic actresses. In this portrait, she plays Viola from Shakespeare’s ‘Twelfth Night’, a role she had played at Drury Lane in November 1785. Hoppner depicts her in character, disguised as page boy Cesario, wearing men’s costume. Mrs Jordan was renowned for playing crossdressing roles, known as ‘breeches parts’. From around 1790, Dora developed a loving relationship with Prince William Henry, Duke of Clarence (later William IV). The royal affair bolstered her fame, as well as making her subject to the satirical ridicule of caricaturists, who profited from the unfortunate coincidence that a ‘Jordan’ was another word for a chamberpot.
Throughout her successful acting career Dora continued to raise a large family of 14 children. Aside from the daughter fathered by the Dublin theatre manager, she bore 3 children by Richard Ford, proprietor of Drury Lane Theatre, and a further 10 children with the Duke of Clarence.
The son of German émigrés, John Hoppner a benefited from close associations with the Hanoverian court, where both his parents were employed. As a boy, he had trained as a chorister in the Chapel Royal, St James Palace and was later granted an allowance to complete his artistic training at the Royal Academy. He was good friends with Mrs Jordan and the Duke of Clarence – both of whom were godparents to his daughter. This is one of the five portraits of Mrs Jordan painted by Hoppner.
English Heritage, Kenwood
London
Title
Mrs Jordan as Viola in 'Twelfth Night'
Date
c.1785–1792
Medium
oil on canvas
Measurements
H 90.2 x W 69.8 cm
Accession number
88028789
Acquisition method
Iveagh Bequest, 1929
Work type
Painting
English Heritage, Kenwood
Hampstead Lane, London, Greater London NW3 7JR England
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Major General Sir Henry Willoughby Rooke (1782–1869), CB, KCH English Heritage, The Wellington Collection, Apsley House -
Miss Mary Linwood (1755–1845), Artist in Needlework Victoria and Albert Museum -
Mrs Jordan as Viola in 'Twelfth Night' English Heritage, Kenwood -
Thomas Chaplin English Heritage, Battle Abbey -
John Eveleigh, DD, Provost (1781–1814) Oriel College, University of Oxford -
William Pitt the Younger (1759–1806), Prime Minister (1783–1801 & 1804–1806) Trinity College, University of Cambridge -
William Pitt, PC (1759–1806) Ingestre Hall Residential Arts Centre - 185 more