Emma, Lady Hamilton (1765-1815), Mistress of Lord Nelson
Sitter in 28 portraits
Emma achieved celebrity through her beauty, personal vitality and skills as a performer. She is principally remembered as the artist George Romney's 'muse' and for her love affair with Nelson. Emma fell in love with Nelson after the Battle of the Nile (1798), when she and her husband William Hamilton, the British Ambassador at Naples, offered the wounded victor hospitality. Emma and Nelson returned to England in 1800 where a daughter was born. The affair was an international scandal, but it enhanced Nelson's reputation as a romantic hero. At his death, in 1805, Nelson entrusted Emma's care to the nation, but this was ignored by the government. She died a pauper in France in 1813.
by George Romney
oil on canvas, circa 1785
On display in Room 17 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG 294
by George Romney
oil on canvas, circa 1785
NPG 4448
by Richard Cosway
pencil and watercolour, circa 1801
NPG 2941
by Vincenzo Aloja, after Charles Grignion
etching, late 18th century
NPG D3203
Emma, Lady Hamilton as a Bacchante
after Sir Joshua Reynolds
line engraving, (circa 1783-1784)
NPG D8700
by Richard Earlom, published by John Boydell, published by Josiah Boydell, after George Romney
stipple engraving, published 1 August 1787
NPG D35240
by John Young, published by John Harris, after John Hoppner
mezzotint, published 1 May 1788
NPG D35241
Emma, Lady Hamilton as a Sibyl
by Dudley H. Pratt, after Elisabeth-Louise Vigée-Le Brun
mezzotint, (1791-1792)
NPG D35245
by Raphael Morghen, after Angelica Kauffmann
line engraving, (1791)
NPG D19120
by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching, published 11 February 1801
NPG D35272
by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching, published 11 February 1801
NPG D12755
Emma, Lady Hamilton ('Dido, in despair!')
by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching and stipple engraving, published 6 February 1801
NPG D13034
by K. Mackenzie, published by Vernor & Hood, after William Mineard Bennett
stipple engraving, published 1803
NPG D23540
by and published by William Say, after John James Masquerier
mezzotint, published 20 May 1806
NPG D35238
by and published by William Say, after John James Masquerier
mezzotint, published 20 May 1806
NPG D35239
by Charles Brome, by Thomas Bragg, published by Richard Lambe, after George Romney
line engraving, published 4 May 1827 (mid 1780s)
NPG D35242
by Charles Brome, by Thomas Bragg, after George Romney
line engraving, 1827 (mid 1780s)
NPG D35243
Emma, Lady Hamilton ('Lady Hamilton as Ariadne')
after George Romney
line engraving, after 1827 (mid 1780s)
NPG D35244
Emma, Lady Hamilton as a Bacchante
by Henry Sigismund Uhlrich, after George Romney
lithograph of wood engraving, published 29 April 1876 (circa 1786)
NPG D35246
Emma, Lady Hamilton as a Bacchante
by Henry Sigismund Uhlrich, after George Romney
lithograph of wood engraving, published 29 April 1876 (circa 1786)
NPG D35247
by Tommaso Piroli, after Friedrich Rehberg
etching, (1794)
NPG D14103
by Tommaso Piroli, after Friedrich Rehberg
etching, (1794)
NPG D14104
by Tommaso Piroli, after Friedrich Rehberg
etching, (1794)
NPG D14105
by Tommaso Piroli, after Friedrich Rehberg
etching, (1794)
NPG D14106
by Tommaso Piroli, after Friedrich Rehberg
etching, (1794)
NPG D14107
by Tommaso Piroli, after Friedrich Rehberg
etching, (1794)
NPG D14108
by Henry Bone, probably after Elisabeth-Louise Vigée-Le Brun
pencil drawing squared in ink for transfer, July 1803
NPG D17508
by Jean Condé, published by James Asperne, after George Romney
stipple engraving, published 1 June 1803 (circa 1782-1786)
NPG D14101
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Related pages
- WebQuest: Pepys, Nelson, Seacole
- Only Connect - Emma Hamilton <> William Hamilton
- Only Connect - Emma Hamilton <> Richard Cosway
- Only Connect - William Hamilton <> Emma Hamilton
- Only Connect - William Hamilton <> Joseph Haydn
- Only Connect - William Hamilton <> Horatio Nelson
- Only Connect - Emma Hamilton <> Horatio Nelson
- Only Connect - Emma Hamilton <> Joseph Haydn
- Only Connect
- Only Connect - installation video
- Self-Portrait
- The Regency
- Only Connect - William Hamilton <> Charles Burney
- Only Connect - William Hamilton <> Wolfgang Mozart
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