
Robert Edge Pine
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Pine was born in London, son of John Pine an engraver and brother of Simon, a miniature painter. Pine devoted himself to portraiture and history painting. He was one of the earliest artists to do portraits of actors in character and in 1882 was thought very innovative when he exhibited a series of paintings to illustrate Shakespeare. He was involved with the Society of Artists from its inauguration in 1760 and several times won the premium of 100 guineas awarded by the Society. In 1772 he transferred his loyalties to the Royal Academy.
Pine was sympathetic towards the American republican cause and painted several prominent ''patriots''. After the Declaration of Independence in 1783 Pine went to America and settled with his wife and children in Philadelphia. Pine had an introduction to Francis Hopkins, who gave him his first American commission, after which he painted Washington and Washington's family. This led to many more commissions, and he was continually employed until his death in 1788. His widow was granted permission to sell his remaining paintings by public auction, with the result that a number of them found their way into American public collections.