| George Beare was a provincial portrait painter of distinguished quality, latterly centred on Salisbury. More than twenty signed portraits are known, all dated between 1744 and 1749. He was presumably trained in London. The earliest in style, and the only full length, 'Sir Frederick Evelyn as a boy', 1744 (Salisbury Museum), suggests a knowledge of Mercier, but training at St. Martin's Lane Academy is likely. He was living at Salisbury in 1746, and several sitters in 1747 have Salisbury connections. He has been mistaken for Hogarth. |
