Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Hoare, Prince
HOARE, PRINCE (1755–1834), dramatic author and artist, born at Bath in 1755, was the son of William Hoare, R.A. [q. v.] He was educated at the Bath grammar school, and instructed in art by his father. In 1772 he gained a Society of Arts premium, and in that year came to London to study at the Royal Academy. In 1776 he visited Rome, and there studied under Mengs, together with Fuseli and Northcote. On returning to England in 1780 he painted for some time, exhibiting at the Royal Academy in 1781 and 1782. His exhibited work included a classical picture called ‘Alceste,’ and a portrait of Sir T. Lawrence when a child. He ceased to exhibit after 1785. In 1788 he took a voyage for his health to Lisbon, whence he returned in June to London. During his absence his first play, a tragedy, ‘Such things were,’ was acted at Bath, 1 Jan. 1788, and afterwards (as ‘Julia, or Such things were’) at Drury Lane, 2 May 1796, for the benefit of Mrs. Siddons. His best known production, ‘No Song, No Supper’ (a farce, with music by Storace), was first acted at Drury Lane on 16 April 1790, and often subsequently. Other productions by Hoare are: ‘The Cave of Trophonius’ (musical farce), Drury Lane, 3 May 1791; ‘Dido’ (opera), Haymarket, 23 May 1792; ‘The Prize’ (musical farce), Haymarket, 11 March 1793, and often subsequently; ‘My Grandmother’ (musical farce), Haymarket, 16 Dec. 1793; ‘The Three and the Deuce’ (comic drama), Haymarket, 2 Sept. 1795; ‘Lock and Key’ (musical farce), Covent Garden, 2 Feb. 1796; ‘Mahmoud’ (opera), Drury Lane, 30 April 1796; ‘The Italian Villagers,’ Covent Garden, 25 April 1797 (for other plays see Gent. Mag. 1835, new ser. iii. 662; Brit. Mus. Cat.; and Baker, Biogr. Dram., art. ‘Hoare,’ where twenty plays are enumerated).
In 1799 Hoare was appointed honorary foreign secretary to the Royal Academy. He was a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries, and of the Royal Society of Literature, to which he bequeathed his library. He died at Brighton on 22 Dec. 1834. A portrait of him, by Northcote, is published in the ‘European Magazine,’ February 1798, p. 75; and one drawn by George Dance in 1798 was published in 1814 in Daniell's ‘Engravings of Dance's Portraits.’
Besides his plays, Hoare published: 1. ‘Extracts from a correspondence with the Academies of Vienna and St. Petersbourg,’ 1802. 2. ‘Academic Correspondence,’ 1804, 4to. 3. ‘Academic Annals of Painting,’ 1805, 4to. 1809 8vo. These three were published by Hoare in his capacity as secretary to the Royal Academy. 4. ‘An Inquiry into the … Art of Design in England,’ 1806. 5. ‘Epochs of the Arts’ (on painting and sculpture in Great Britain), London, 1813, 8vo. 6. ‘Memoirs of Granville Sharp,’ London, 1820, 4to. 7. ‘Love's Victims; a poem.’ Hoare edited ‘The Artist,’ 2 vols. 4to, 1809–10 (a collection of essays, some by Hoare).
[Gent. Mag. 1835, new ser. i. 661–2; European Mag. February 1798, p. 75; Redgrave's Dict. of Artists; Baker's Biog. Dram. i. 353; Brit. Mus. Cat.; Genest's Hist. Stage.]