painting Portrait of Rev. Jeremiah Milles

Object number

LDSAL307.2

Artist/Designer/Maker

Dance, Nathaniel - Attributed to

Production date

1770

Material

oil paint
canvas (paint canvas)

Dimensions

height: 760mm
width: 630mm

Location

Burlington House -

Content description

Jeremiah Milles is depicted half-length to the front, head turned left with brown eyes, grey wig and clerical black gown with bands.

Portrait of Rev. Jeremiah Milles attributed to Nathaniel Dance-Holland, 1770

A typical antiquary of the 18th century Jeremiah Milles FSA was elected to the Society of Antiquaries in 1741. In 1769, he became its President, an office which he held until his death in 1784. His Presidency saw the development of the Society’s public profile with its move to Somerset House and the publication of the series 'Archaeologia', and a series of historical prints, some so large that a new size of paper had to be produced, called ‘Antiquarian’. The portrait is likely to have been painted between 1765, when Dance returned to London, and 1780, when Milles suffered a stroke.