JOHANN

ZOFFANY (1733-1810)  , British painter, whose father was architect to the prince of Thurn and Taxis, was born in Frankfort-on-Main . He ran away from home at the age of thirteen and went to Rome, where he studied art for nearly twelve years . In 1758 he left for England, and after under-going some hardships was brought into fashion by royal patronage, and in 1769 was included among the foundation members of the Royal Academy . He went to Florence in 1772 with an introduction from George III. to the grand duke of Tuscany, and did not return until 1779 . During this second stay in Italy he met with much success, and was commanded by the empress Maria Theresa to paint a picture of the royal family of Tuscany; this work he executed so much to the satisfaction of the empress that in 1778 he was created a baron of the Austrian empire . He went next to India, where he lived from 1783 to 1790, to which period belong some of his best-known paintings; but the last twenty years of his life were spent in England . He died in 18,o and was buried in Kew churchyard . His portrait groups of dramatic celebrities are, perhaps, the most highly esteemed of his many productions; they have considerable technical merit and show much shrewd insight into character . Several of the best are in the Garrick Club, London .