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Henry Bone: A Life in Enamel

• Born: Truro, United Kingdom (1755)
• Died: 1834

Henry Bone RA was a distinguished English enamel painter who served three successive monarchs – George III, George IV, and William IV – in that official capacity. His career spanned porcelain and jewelry painting before he became renowned for his large-scale enamel paintings, earning him recognition as a Royal Academician.

Early Life and Apprenticeship

Born in Truro, Cornwall, Henry Bone’s father was a skilled cabinet maker and carver. In 1767, the family relocated to Plymouth, Devon, where young Henry began his apprenticeship in 1771 under William Cookworthy, the founder of the Plymouth porcelain works – England's first manufacturer of hard-paste porcelain. This early experience proved formative, as he later moved with Cookworthy and Champion to the Bristol China Works for six years. During this time, Bone worked diligently from morning until evening, dedicating his nights to studying drawing. His contributions to the Bristol China Works are considered highly meritorious, potentially marked by a distinctive "1" alongside the factory mark.

Rise as an Enamel Painter

Following the closure of the Bristol works in 1778, Bone moved to London with limited resources. He initially found work enameling watches and fans before transitioning to enamel and watercolor portraits. He cultivated a friendship with John Wolcot, who encouraged his artistic pursuits and advised him on professional tours in Cornwall. In 1780, he married Elizabeth Vandermeulen, whose lineage included the battle painter Adam Frans van der Meulen. Bone’s talent quickly gained recognition; he exhibited his first painting, a portrait of his wife, at the Royal Academy in 1781 – an unusually large enamel for its time.

Royal Patronage and Major Works

Bone dedicated himself entirely to enamel painting, consistently exhibiting at the Royal Academy. A significant milestone was his 1789 exhibition of "A Muse and Cupid," the largest enamel painting produced up to that point. His artistic prowess earned him royal favor; he became enamel painter to the Prince of Wales in 1800, then to George III in 1801, a position he retained throughout the reigns of George IV and William IV. He was elected a Royal Academician (RA) in 1811 and created an even larger enamel, "Bacchus and Ariadne," after Titian’s masterpiece. The immense popularity of this work led to its sale for 2,200 guineas – a sum secured just before the bank holding his payment suspended operations!

Later Years and Legacy

Bone's later works included series of historical portraits depicting figures from the time of Elizabeth I and "Cavaliers distinguished in the Civil War," as well as portraits of the Russell family. While the Elizabethan series did not achieve immediate financial success, it demonstrated his commitment to a lasting artistic legacy. His eyesight began to fail in 1831, leading him to retire and accept a royal academy pension. He died in 1834, remembered as "a man of unaffected modesty and generosity." His collections were sold at auction after his death, dispersing numerous works across various collectors. Henry Bone’s sons, Henry Pierce Bone and Robert Trewick Bone, also became notable enamellists, continuing the family's artistic tradition.