Dance, Nathaniel

Dance, Nathaniel (Sir Nathaniel Dance-Holland) (b London, 18 May 1735; d Winchester, 15 Oct. 1811).
English painter, primarily of portraits. He studied under Hayman and spent the years 1754–65 in Rome, where he was much influenced by the sophisticated portrait style of Pompeo Batoni. In 1768 he became a foundation member of the Royal Academy, but on inheriting a fortune in 1776 he retired from professional practice. He became an MP in 1790 and in 1800 he was created a baronet and assumed the surname Dance-Holland. One of his best-known portraits is Captain Cook (1766, Nat. Maritime Mus., London). He was the son and brother of architects, both called George Dance.