Robert Edge Pine

Robert Edge Pine (1730, London - November 18, 1788, Philadelphia) was an English portrait and historical painter, born in London. He was the son of John Pine, the engraver, and probably his pupil.

He painted portraits, such as those of George II, of the Duke of Northumberland, and of Garrick (in the National Portrait Gallery); a series of scenes from Shakespeare, some of which afterward appeared in Boydell's "Shakespeare"; and historical compositions, including "Lord Rodney Aboard the Formidable" (Town Hall, Kingston, Jamaica).

About 1784 he came to America and settled Philadelphia, where his time was completely taken up with portraiture. Among his sitters were General Gates, Charles Carroll, Robert Morris, George Read, Thomas Stone, Mrs. Reid (Metropolitan Museum, New York), and Washington (1785). The portrait of Washington was engraved for Irving's "Life of Washington", but it is weak in characterization. An historically interesting canvas "Congress Voting Independence", now in the Historical Society, Philadelphia, was begun by Pine and finished by Edward Savage. After Pine's death many of his pictures were collected in the Columbian Museum in Boston, since destroyed by fire.

Publications

* Hart, "Congress Voting Independence," "Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography" 29 (1905): 1-14.

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