Thomas Hudson: A Life Dedicated to the Art of Portraiture Thomas Hudson, a name synonymous with elegance and refinement in 18th-century English portraiture, remains a captivating figure whose career spanned decades and profoundly influenced generations of artists. Born in Bideford, Devon, in 1701 – though the precise details of his early life remain somewhat shrouded in mystery – Hudson’s artistic journey began under the tutelage of Jonathan Richardson in London, an apprenticeship that instilled within him a meticulous approach to capturing likeness and a deep appreciation for classical aest…