Dorothy Jordan
- Artist: John Hoppner
- Date: 1791
- Medium: oil on canvas
- Dimensions: 29 1/2 in. x 24 1/2 in. (749 mm x 622 mm)
- Portrays: Dorothy Jordan (Mrs Jordan) (Dorothea Phillips)
- Museum: The National Portrait Gallery
- Collection record: The National Portrait Gallery website
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About this artwork
This is “Dorothy Jordan” by John Hoppner, painted in oil on canvas and first shown in 1791. The portrait captures her in the breeches costume of a young soldier from Cibber’s comedy, the very role that made audiences swoon. Notice the polished face, the small spectacles perched on her nose, and the simple hat tipped forward – all classic signs of an actor’s stage presence.
Hoppner painted with light brushwork; the colors are soft but deliberate, giving her a poised, almost theatrical stance. In life she was the leading comic actress of her day, famous for cross‑dress roles that thrilled 18th‑century crowds. She played in “Cibber’s She Would and She Would Not” among other popular breeches parts. The painting’s medium and careful rendering explain why it remains a fine example of early British portraiture.
See it in person
Dorothy Jordan is in the collection of The National Portrait Gallery at St Martin's Place, London — free to enter. Point your phone at any artwork there and audioguide.london plays a free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
