John Opie (1761-1807): Portrait of a Gentleman, by Repute, a Member of the Mudge Family
Provenance: Ex Lander Gallery. The Mudges were a prominent Plymouth family, Dr John Mudge was a noted physician who was a creator of telescope mirrors, an elected a Fellow of the Royal Society and an intimate of Joshua Reynolds, Samuel Johnson and other noted scientists of the day. There is a portrait of Dr Mudge by Opie in Auckland Art Gallery and research indicates that Opie also painted his son, Admiral Zachary Mudge. Dr Mudge had ten children.