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| William Hamilton (1751–1801) | ||||||||||
| A historical painter, Hamilton was born in Chelsea to Scottish parents. His father, who assisted the architect Robert Adam, arranged for him to study in Italy under Antonio Zucchi. Too young to fully benefit from his time in Rome, he returned to England and joined the Royal Academy in 1769, quickly gaining recognition as a portrait and historical painter. He first exhibited there in 1774 with King Edgar's First Interview with Elfrida and three other works, and contributed to Boydell's Shakespeare, Macklin's Bible and British Poets, and Bowyer's English History, earning both his patrons’ approval and public admiration. Hamilton's coloured drawings are considered among the most tasteful of the period, and he also produced numerous portraits—particularly of theatrical figures—as well as arabesques, decorative panels, and ornaments in Zucchi’s style, including the panels of Lord Fitzgibbon's state carriage now in the South Kensington Museum. He became an Associate of the Royal Academy in 1784 and a full Academician in 1789, after which his works often drew on poetry, history, or scripture. He died in London. | ||||||||||
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Art