Half profile portrait of an artist
Oil on canvas laid on panel
Note: Painted in Rome, 1782
Hugh Douglas Hamilton (Irish, 1740-1808) was one of the leading portrait painters in Ireland in the eighteenth-century. He commenced his career in Dublin making pastel portraits. These are usually on a small scale and oval in format. Walpole described these works as ‘...very pretty. These drawings are upon a flesh-coloured paper, black and white chalk and here and there a touch of crayons.’ He also executed pastel works on a larger scale. He moved to London in about 1764 and commenced in practice as a artist in pastel and oil paint. He painted members of society from Ireland and England, namely Lord Castlereagh, The Earl of Clare, Lord Edward Fitzgerald and members of the La Touche family. In 1778 Hamilton travelled to Italy and settled in Rome. Whilst here he painted members of the aristocracy, in the city, as part of The Grand Tour. He returned to Dublin to continue painting. Although primarily a portrait painter, Hamilton also painted historical and mythological subjects.
Works by Hamilton can be seen at The National Gallery of Ireland: The British Museum; The Ulster Museum, and The National Portrait Gallery, London.
See also Lot 2025.

Dimensions:5 x 4½ inches (12.7 x 11.5 cm.)