Biography

Hofland was born in Worksop

Worksop

Worksop is the largest town in the Bassetlaw district of Nottinghamshire, England on the River Ryton at the northern edge of Sherwood Forest. It is about east-south-east of the City of Sheffield and its population is estimated to be 39,800...

 and he became a student of John Rathbone. He started teaching at Kew and in 1805 he moved to Derby

Derby

Derby , is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands region of England. It lies upon the banks of the River Derwent and is located in the south of the ceremonial county of Derbyshire. In the 2001 census, the population of the city was 233,700, whilst that of the Derby Urban Area was 229,407...

. Hofland worked in Derby until 1808. He became the second husband of successful writer Barbara Hofland

Barbara Hofland

Barbara Hofland was an English writer of some 66 didactic, moral stories for children, and of schoolbooks and poetry.-Life:...

 in 1810. Hofland exhibited 72 paintings at the Royal Academy

Royal Academy

The Royal Academy of Arts is an art institution based in Burlington House on Piccadilly, London. The Royal Academy of Arts has a unique position in being an independent, privately funded institution led by eminent artists and architects whose purpose is to promote the creation, enjoyment and...

 but the main source of their income was his wife's writing. He was a founder member of the Society of British Artists where he exhibited over 100 paintings. It was said that he helped found the society, because he had not been made a member of the Royal Academy.

Three years before he died he finally visited Italy. Hofland died of cancer in Leamington Spa.

Legacy

Hofland's paintings and resulting engravings are in the Governments Art Collection and in museums or galleries in Portsmouth, Derby

Derby Museum and Art Gallery

Derby Museum and Art Gallery was established in 1879, along with Derby Central Library, in a new building designed by Richard Knill Freeman and given to Derby by Michael Thomas Bass. The collection includes a whole gallery displaying the paintings of Joseph Wright of Derby; there is also a large...

and Sheffield.