John Theodore Heins (Dirck Heine) 1697-1756 the Portrait Painter Artist Norwich Norfolk
John Theodore Heins
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The artist John Theodore Heins was not a relation of mine however I have an interest in him as he painted an excellent portrait of my great x6 grandfather Robert Crowe. His style of painting shows detail of an exceptionally high quality. The face of the portrait is very formal and has been painted so carefully that the result is more like a photograph rather than a painting. Even under a magnifying glass it is difficult to see the brush strokes. I have tried to find out more about Heins the painter but there is little on the internet so I thought it might be worth while creating a page with what information I have been able to find out so far. He does not appear to have had a biography written about him but he is mentioned in a few books and a summary would be as follows:
Heins appears to have originated in Germany but moved to the UK and settled in Norwich around 1720. King George I who ascended to the crown in 1714 was from Hanover. I understand that George I did not spend a lot of time in the UK however during his reign there were a number of immigrants arriving here from Hanover and perhaps John Theodore Heins was one such person. Tracing his early days is rather difficult partly because he seems to have gone under a number of different names including Dietrich and Dirck.
From 1720 to his death in 1756, Heins built up a fine reputation as a portrait painter and painted many members of prominent Norfolk families right up to his last year. He was commissioned in 1732 to paint a portrait of the Mayor of Norwich, Francis Arnam and also the previous year's Mayor Robert Marsh. After this Heins received regular commissions to paint Mayors and other civil dignitaries. By far the majority of his sitters are residents in Norfolk but he also painted people living in Cambridgeshire and Suffolk. The only other place where he may have painted is Devon where he possibly painted Mr Gerard Hartopp Govenor of Plymouth, painting dated 1752 (or did the sitter visit Norwich?). There also exists a collection of portraits of the Enys family who lived near Penryn in Cornwall (John Enys Sheriff for Cornwall, Samuel Enys, Lucy Enys nee Bassett, her sister Mrs Archer, John Enys Anne Enys nee Gregor). The Enys family portraits were sold by Bonhams 20 Sept 2008. None were attributed to Heins and the dates of some of the sitters could be a bit late (but they certainly all look like his work despite being in need of a good clean).
There are many examples of his portraits in Museums and examples also occasionally turn up for sale at some of the major auction houses. One notable characteristic is that they often have an oval painted onto the canvas to help frame the sitter. Prices vary from £1,000 to £10,000. |
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Heins usually puts his signature on the bottom right hand side or bottom left hand side. The signed copies usually record his name and date as follows: Heins, Fec:17XX. (eg 1743). Fec being a Latin abbreviation meaning 'made' (or he made, or made by). One early portrait of a Norfolk sitter (Hewling Luson) is dated 1723 and has his name signed Heine instead of Heins. Other early portraits are signed D Heins, the D standing for Dirck or Dietrich which was possibly what he was originally known by. Dietrich is the German equivalent of Theodore but his official name so to speak appears to have eventually become John Theodore Heins. Another unlikely possibility is that there was a second portrait painter based in Norwich with the name Heins during this period.
Heins may have had some influence on the artist Thomas Gainsborough (1727-1788). There is no record to confirm this but Heins painted some of Gainsborough's earlier relations and hence Gainsborough must have been familiar with these portraits. Gainsborough was brought up in Sudbury but trained in London.
It is believed that Heins died in Norwich 10 August, 1756, aged about 59 years. He had continued painting right up until his death. I have not been able to establish anything about his family life except that he had a wife called Abigail, a daughter (name?) and a son with the same name John Theodore Heins Jr (1732c to 1771). John Jr also became a portrait painter but does not appear to have developed the skill of his father. He is known to have painted some miniatures but he seems to have progressed on to becoming a topographical etcher. He died in London in 1771.
Books that mention Heins include:
Dictionary of British 18th Century Painters by Ellis Waterhouse, 1981.
Family & Friends, A Regional Survey of British Portraiture by Andrew Moore and Charlotte Crawley, 1992.
Portraits in Norfolk Houses by Prince Frederick Duleep Singh, undated but published around 1927-1928.
The Forty-Sixth Volume Of The Walpole Society, 1976-1978, pages 73 and 75.
Attributing portraits to Heins is easy when his signature is clearly visible but if there is no visible signature then an attribution can be difficult. Portraits by Allan Ramsay (1713-1784) and Thomas Hudson (1701-1779) are very similar and so many portraits are probably incorrectly attributed. One very easy point to note about Heins is that he often paints a feint oval around the sitter and this oval can often be noted as a distinct difference. Ovals painted by Ramsey and Hudson are not so common and are often much stronger in their detail. If the sitter is from the Norfolk area then the portrait is of course most likely to be by Heins.
I would welcome any more images or any more information that anyone on the internet might be able to send me about Heins or any of the families that he painted. Please contact me on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Portraits Dated in Chronological Order
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Thomas Marsham
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Dexter side of portrait. Sinister side of portrait. |
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Unknown Lady in a Red Dress |
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Mrs Henry Holt Henley |
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John Burkin |
Half length. Body and eyes both full, face slight turned towards the dexter, eyes grey, high curly white wig thrown back over the right shoulder, knot on the left side, mole on the lower side of the face. Dress: Brown coat, frilled shirt, neckband and narrow lace-edged cross-over cravat, brown robe over. M. Oval corners. Age 70. |
Mrs James Burkin |
Half length. Body and face both turned towards the dexter, eyes full, the latter brown, hair very flat with a wisp hanging behind, some white tulle in the hair. Dress: Pink velvet, bodice cut low and V shape over the shoulders, lace tucker, left sleeve caught back with a jewel, showing a lower elbow sleeve, two jewelled clasps in front; holding green orange and leaves, grey gauze on right arm. In sham oval. Age 22. |
John Davy |
Half length. Body turned slightly towards the dexter, face in opposite direction, small grey eyes full, white wig thrown back on the right shoulder, a knot hanging down the left side. Dress: Plain dove-coloured coat, open showing a silver waistcoat richly brocaded in colours, open at the waist, small silver buttons, neckband and fulled shirt, small lace ruffles; the left arm is extended towards the dexter. M. Age 20. Oval corners. 'D Heins fecit 1724'. |
Nathaniel Warner |
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Thomas Manning and Mrs Manning |
Known to have once been at Diss Rectory. See 'Notes & Queries' Oxford University Press 1878. |
Unknown Lady |
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Miles Branthwayt |
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Rebecca Branthwayt nee Newton
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Julian Branthwayt |
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Sir Jacob Astley 3rd Bt |
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Mr Edward Pearce |
Head and shoulder. Body full, face turned slightly towards the sinister, eyes full, the latter a dark grey, white curly wig, thrown off on the right side, tied in a knot on the left side. Dress: Olive green coat, small buttons, open, showing a frille . . . shirt, neckband, and lace ruffle, a pink or puce robe across the body and the left shoulder. Oval corners. Age 40. Date 1725 |
Mrs Edward Pearce |
Half length. Body and eyes both full, face turned slightly towards the dexter, the eyes of a dark grey colour, very dark hair, parted and flat. Dress: White satin, bodice cut low and round but over the shoulder, tucked edged with lace, large diamond on the breast, sleeves caught back with a jewel, just showing the lace elbow sleeves, tight waist to the bodice, old rose scarf over the left shoulder and behind on the right side. M. Oval corners. Age 30. circa 1725. There is no signature of the artist but undoubtedly by D Heins of Norwich. |
Sir Henry Le Strange 6th Bart. |
Head and shoulder. Body, face and dark eyes all turned towards the sinister, long curley white wig, knot on the right, and thrown back over the left shoulder. Dress: Dark grey coat, lined with pale grey silk, similar waistcoat, open, fulled shirt, neckband an lace ruffle. Size 28 1/2 by 24 inch. Inscribed 'Sir Henry L'Estrange, Bart. 1760'. and signed 'D Heins fe 1725'. Aged 30. |
The Wine Taster |
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Dorothy Branthwayt |
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John Theordore Heins |
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Margretta Marsham |
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John Harvey of Beachamwell, Norfolk |
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Robert Lambert |
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John Ives as a Young Boy
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Thomas Harwood |
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Davy Durrant |
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Unknown Gentleman |
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Dr Robert Lambert |
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Master Harry Spark Patterson |
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Samuel Bradford |
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Matthias Mawson |
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Malachi Hodshon |
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Edward Astley |
Body and face turned towards the sinister, grey eyes full, white wig thrown back over the shoulders. Brown velvert coat, no collar, small brown buttons, fulled shirt, neckband and ruffles. 75cm x 53cm. Inscribed 'Edward, 3rd son of Sir Philip Astely, Bart'. |
Charles Gostin |
Half length. Body and face both full, grey eyes, long curled wig tied at end. Dress: Grey coat, white frilled shirt, and cross over tie, a red rob over. M. Age 40. circa 1730. |
Jacob Preston |
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Thomas Gainsborough |
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Unknown Lady in Blue Dress |
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Unknown Lady |
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Unknown Boy |
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Edward and Blanche Astley |
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Elizabeth Lady Astley |
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Miss Isabella Astley |
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Philip Astley |
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Rev Thomas Astley |
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Robert Marsh |
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Francis Arnam |
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Catherine Gostlin |
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Henry Brittan |
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Music Party at Melton Constable |
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John Harvey of Ipswich |
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Mrs James Burkin nee Coates |
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Richard Berney |
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Edward Astley |
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Rev John Astely |
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Francis Longe |
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Mrs Francis Longe nee Godfrey |
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John Howes
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Mrs Caleb Elwin nee Astley |
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Thomas Vere |
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Timothy Balderston |
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Mrs Isacc Preston |
Standing body turned towards the sinister, face in the opposit direction, eyes full, the latter black, black hair, wavy and long behind and also behind the right shoulder. Dress: Pale yellow, bodice cut low and V shaped tight waist, full skirt, dress sleeves to the elbow, and also elbow sleeves, she wears a . . . jewel brooch, with a diamond on each side, at the breast a scarlet robe passes behind both right and left arms; the left hand rests on a gilt carved table, which is on the sinister side of the picture, and on which also rests some of the robe, while the right hand is across the body, holding the stem of a green orange sprig. Pillars on each side of the picture. L Age 25. Date 1737. Signed on the base of the sinister pillar. |
The Death of Thomas Guy |
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Thomas Guy Counting His Money |
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Thomas Harwood |
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Unknown Gentleman |
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Reverend Miles Burkitt
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Unknown Gentleman |
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Benjamin Nuthall (d. 1752) |
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Christopher Amiraut |
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Thomas Wright of Wighton |
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Unknown Gentleman |
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Unknown Gentleman |
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Unknown Gentleman |
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Howes Family |
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Howes Family |
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John Patteson as a Child |
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George Frederic Handel
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Simon Kerrich
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Unknown Lady |
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The Hon Horatio Walpole |
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William Clarke |
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Judith Lady Astley |
Seated on a red-backed chair, body turned towards the dexter, face more to the front, fair hair, or just tinted grey, done flat, lock behind. Bright blue bodice cut low, and V shape, fastened in front with a ruby, showing a white opening below and frill all round, sleeves to the elbow slit, with small elbow sleeves below. Inscribed 'Judith Watlington, 2nd wife of Sir Jacob Astley, 3rd Bt'. |
Unknown Gentleman |
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Unknown Boy |
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Sir Thomas Gooch, 2nd bt.
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Sir Thomas Gooch, 3rd bt. |
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Anna Maria Kett nee Phillips |
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Henry Kett |
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Richard Walker |
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Thomas Emerson |
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Lydia Harvey |
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Unknown Lady in a White Dress with a Pink Sash |
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Brampton Gurdon-Dillingham |
Full length. Seated on a blue velvet cushion with gold braid and tassels, body and face both full, blue eyes, short fair hair, muslin cap close on the head. Dress: Scarlet, with white muslin over it, pointed bodice, full round the neck, sleeves turned back, and elbow sleeves, scarlet shoes and silver buckles; the left hand holding cherries and pear, right hand held over. M. Age 3. Signed 'Heins fec 1742'. |
Mrs William Bulwer nee Wilson. |
TQL. Seated, body turned slightly towards the dexter, face in the opposite direction, grey eyes full, brown hair, parted and low, curls on each side. Dress: Bright blue tight waisted bodice cut low, clasped in front with diamonds, wide sleeves to the elbow, white undergarment with frill; left elbow, bent, rests on a gilt table with marble top standing on the sinister side of the picture, right hand resting on lap holds a large pink rose. On the table and above is a fawn-coloured curtain. L. Age 45. |
Mrs John Blofeld |
Girl. Full length. Standing, body and face both full, grey eyes, light hair, flat on the head and curles behind. Dress: White satin, tight pointed bodice with a small opening, white frill round the top, full skirt, white satin shoes; the left elbow is on a gilt console table, with the hand towards the body, holding a pink rose, the right is extended towards the dexter side, to a brown and white Blenheim spaniel, looking upwards, with one paw on the girl's dress. Heavy blue curtain on the sinister side. L. Age 15. Date 1740. Signed 'D Heins fecit 1742'. |
Robert Crow (Crowe) |
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Alice Crowe nee Alpe |
The portrait of Alice Crowe nee Alpe (wife of Robert Crow) is belived to have been sold via one of the London auction houses in the 1970s. Where is this portrait now? |
Catherine Nelson nee Suckling
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Allegory of Trade |
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John, Lord Hobart 1st Earl of Buckinghamshire |
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Sir Robert Walpole, Earl of Orford. |
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William Wiggett |
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William Wiggett Bulwer |
TQL. Standing, body full, face turned towards the dexter, grey eyes also full, short white wig hiding the ears. Dress: Loose grey coat, buttoned-black sleeves, and buttons all down pink waistcoat, with broad silver lace edging, and similar flap pockets, and lace under pockets, small silver buttons, black knee-breeches and white stockings, fulled shirt, ruffle, neckband, and wristlets; the right hand is on some pigeons. L. Age 15. |
Mrs Francis Longe |
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John Harvey (1699-1751) Heins Fec: 1744 (John Harvey: Biography) (John Harvey: Larger Image) Christies 18 Sept 2013 Lot4 |
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Unknown Man |
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Simeon Waller |
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John Taylor |
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Sir Benjamin Wrench MD |
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Simeon Waller |
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Miss Judith Bedingfield |
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Elizabeth Gage nee Rookwood |
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Lucy, Lady Gage |
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Sir Thomas Rookwood Gage Bt |
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Thomas Harvey |
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Unknown Lady (Bedingfeld?) |
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William Rolfe |
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Unknown Gentleman
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Matthew Brettingham |
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Mr and Mrs Carr Brackenbury |
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Two Women by Candlelight
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Reverend Thomas Roger Duquesne |
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Reverend Peter Finch AM |
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Mr Mortlake |
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Unknown Lady |
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Unknown Boy |
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Henry Hubbard BD |
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George Frederic Handel
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Unknown Lady |
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Richard Walker |
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Mrs Heyward |
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Mr Gerard Hartopp |
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Susannah Beaumont (Mrs John Walter) |
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Mr D'Anez Burnell |
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Unknown Lady |
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Thomas Hurnard (l711/2-1753) |
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Mrs Gerard Hartopp |
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Rev George Beaumont |
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Elizabeth (Betty) Beaumont |
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Unknown Lady |
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Miss Eyre |
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Unknown Lady |
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Unknown Gentleman |
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Radcliffe Pearl Todd |
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Matthew Goss |
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Nockold Tompson |
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Mrs Rice Wiggett nee Bulwer |
Half Length. Body almost full, face turned very slightly towards the sinister, with brown eyes in the opposite direction, brown hair dressed flat, a lace Hogarth cap around the face, tied with blue ribbon beneath the chin. Dress: Buff satin, narrow bodice, sleeves to the elbow, and lace-edged elbow sleeves, blue bow on each sleeve, and at the breast, a lace-edged fichu falls in front. M. Oval. Age 50. Signed 'Heins 1756'. |
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Undated Portraits
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William Warren LLD |
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John Kirkpatrick |
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Robert Camell LLD |
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The Revd. Henry Hubbard, B.D. |
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William Broome |
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Beli |
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Charles John Broome |
TQL. Standing, body and face both turned towards the dexter, grey eyes full, white wig reaching to the shoulders. Dress: Pale blue coat, no collar to it, one button of it fastened at the waist, twelve silver barred buttonholes and silver round buttons, deep sleeves buttoned back with such, full shirt, neckband and ruffle, silver swordhilt; the right hand gloved holds another glove and points to the dexter, he wears a black three-cornered hat with silver lace edge. M. Age 10. circa 1740. On label: 'Son of Dr Browne by Haynes' It is certainly by Heins though unsigned. |
Alderman Nuttall |
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John Kerrich |
Half length. Body and face both turned towards the sinister, dark eyes full, long white wig to the shoulders. Dress: Black coat, red gown and bands of a MD. M. Age 30. circa 1730. Signed 'Heins'. |
Charles Gostlin |
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Known to have been at Harewood House |
Mrs Cowper Mother of the Poet |
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Mrs James Beevor |
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Unknown Gentleman |
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Mrs King |
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Sir James Burrough |
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Three Unknown Children |
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The Ascension of Christ Pevsner |
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Portraits by Heins can be found hanging in a number of Museums and Art Galleries including the following:
Gainsborough's House, 46 Gainsborough Street, Sudbury, Suffolk. www.gainsborough.org
Norwich Castle Museum (very good website). www.museums.norfolk.gov.uk
Yale Centre for British Art www.yale.edu/ycba
Images can also be found on some of the auction websites:
Bonhams
Sothebys
Christie's
An extensive list of portraits, including many by Heins, can be referenced in the book 'Portraits in Norfolk Houses' by Prince Frederick Duleep Singh, undated but published around 1927-1928.
If you can send me any more images, or any better quality images, of paintings by Heins, I would be very pleased to hear from you.
If you have any further information about John Theodore Heins or any of the sitters in his portraits, I would be very pleased to hear from you. Please contact me on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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