Sir William Hamilton, KB, PC, FRS, FRSE (1730–1803)
circle of Sir Joshua Reynolds PRA (Plympton 1723 - London 1792)
Category
Art / Oil paintings
Date
c. 1777 - 1779
Materials
Oil on canvas
Measurements
432 x 425 mm
Order this imageCollection
Osterley Park and House, London
NT 771256
Summary
Oil painting on canvas, Sir William Hamilton (1730–1803), circle of Sir Joshua Reynolds PRA (Plympton 1723 - London 1792), c. 1777-9. A head-and-shoulders portrait, turned to right, gazing upwards. A raised hand with pointed fore finger (the sitter's own or another's?) is sketched in close to the sitter's face. The combination of a bust-length portrait with column in the background is unusual and suggests that the painting was possibly cut down from or was a study for a larger work. Possibly related to the portrait of William Hamilton in Sir Joshua Reynolds' group portrait of the Dilettanti Society (1777). Listed in the catalogue of the Rev. Alexander Dyce's collection in the South Kensington Museum (now V&A), 1874, as a portrait of Sir William Chambers (1723-1796) by an unknown artist. Formerly catalogued as a portrait of Sir William Chambers, British (English) School, 18th century.
Provenance
Bequeathed to South Kensington Museum by the Reverend Alexander Dyce, 1869; on loan from V&A.
Makers and roles
circle of Sir Joshua Reynolds PRA (Plympton 1723 - London 1792), artist previously catalogued as by British (English) School, artist