A Life Dedicated to Likeness: The World of John Hayter John Hayter RA (1800-1895) occupies a fascinating, if sometimes understated, position within the pantheon of 19th-century British portraiture. While perhaps not possessing the household name recognition of contemporaries like Lawrence or Gainsborough, Hayter’s career was remarkably prolific and deeply interwoven with the fabric of Victorian society. Born into an artistic family in St James's, United Kingdom, his path seemed predetermined – a destiny he embraced wholeheartedly, ultimately becoming Painter-in-Ordinary to Queen Victoria her…