John Greenhill (circa 1644, Salisbury – 19 May 1676, London), English portrait painter. Interested in art from an early age, in about 1662 he moved to London in order to study. He became a pupil of Sir Peter Lely, and also carefully studied and copied the late van Dyck's portraits; it is said that his rapidly progressing skill aroused Lely's jealousy. He married early and was at first industrious and increasingly successful. But he had a pronounced taste for the theater and, living in Covent Garden, he began to associate with free-living theatrical types, and fell into "irregular habits". In May of 1676, while returning from a tavern in a drunken state, he fell into the gutter. Carried to his lodgings, he died the same night. He left a widow and family, to whom Lely gave an annuity. There's disagreement as to the date of his birth, but he was probably about 32. (http://godsandfoolishgrandeur.blogspot.nl/2015/08/serious-english-faces-portraits-by-john.html) John Greenhill (c. 1644 – 19 May 1676); English portrait painter, a pupil of Peter Lely, who approached his teacher in artistic excellence, but whose life was cut short by a dissolute lifestyle. Greenhill was born at Salisbury, [Wiltshire] around 1644... Greenhill's first attempt was a portrait of his paternal uncle, James Abbott of Salisbury, whom he is said to have sketched surreptitiously, as the old man would not sit for him. About 1662 he moved to London, and became a pupil of Sir Peter Lely. His progress was rapid, and he acquired some of Lely's skill and method. He carefully studied Vandyck's portraits, and George Vertue commented that he copied so closely Vandyck's portrait of "Thomas Killigrew and his dog" that it was difficult to know which was the original. Vertue also says that his progress excited Lely's jealousy. ...Greenhill's portraits are of great merit, often approaching those of Lely in excellence. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Greenhill) undefined

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