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Emma Hamilton

(Baptised 1765-1815), Mistress of Lord Nelson

Emma (née Lyon), Lady Hamilton

Mid-Georgian Portraits Catalogue Entry

Sitter in 30 portraits
Daughter of a blacksmith, Emma achieved celebrity through her beauty, personal vitality and skills as a performer. She is principally remembered as George Romney's 'muse' and for her love affair with Nelson. Emma fell in love with him 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 her care to the nation, but this was ignored by the government. She died in poverty in France in 1815.

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Emma Hamilton, by George Romney - NPG 4448

Emma Hamilton

by George Romney
oil on canvas, circa 1785
On display in Room 18 on Floor 3 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG 4448

Emma Hamilton, by Vincenzo Aloja, after  Charles Grignion - NPG D3203

Emma Hamilton

by Vincenzo Aloja, after Charles Grignion
etching, late 18th century
NPG D3203

Emma Hamilton as a Bacchante, after Sir Joshua Reynolds - NPG D8700

Emma Hamilton as a Bacchante

after Sir Joshua Reynolds
line engraving, (circa 1783-1784)
NPG D8700

Emma Hamilton ('Alope'), by Richard Earlom, published by  John Boydell, published by  Josiah Boydell, after  George Romney - NPG D35240

Emma Hamilton ('Alope')

by Richard Earlom, published by John Boydell, published by Josiah Boydell, after George Romney
stipple engraving, published 1 August 1787
NPG D35240

Emma Hamilton ('Neæra'), by John Young, published by  John Harris, after  John Hoppner - NPG D35241

Emma Hamilton ('Neæra')

by John Young, published by John Harris, after John Hoppner
mezzotint, published 1 May 1788
NPG D35241

Emma Hamilton, by Raphael Morghen, after  Angelica Kauffmann - NPG D19120

Emma Hamilton

by Raphael Morghen, after Angelica Kauffmann
line engraving, (1791)
NPG D19120

Emma Hamilton, by Tommaso Piroli, after  Friedrich Rehberg - NPG D14103

Emma Hamilton

by Tommaso Piroli, after Friedrich Rehberg
etching, (1794)
NPG D14103

Emma Hamilton, by Tommaso Piroli, after  Friedrich Rehberg - NPG D14104

Emma Hamilton

by Tommaso Piroli, after Friedrich Rehberg
etching, (1794)
NPG D14104

Emma Hamilton, by Tommaso Piroli, after  Friedrich Rehberg - NPG D14105

Emma Hamilton

by Tommaso Piroli, after Friedrich Rehberg
etching, (1794)
NPG D14105

Emma Hamilton, by Tommaso Piroli, after  Friedrich Rehberg - NPG D14106

Emma Hamilton

by Tommaso Piroli, after Friedrich Rehberg
etching, (1794)
NPG D14106

Emma Hamilton, by Tommaso Piroli, after  Friedrich Rehberg - NPG D14107

Emma Hamilton

by Tommaso Piroli, after Friedrich Rehberg
etching, (1794)
NPG D14107

Emma Hamilton, by Tommaso Piroli, after  Friedrich Rehberg - NPG D14108

Emma Hamilton

by Tommaso Piroli, after Friedrich Rehberg
etching, (1794)
NPG D14108

Emma Hamilton as a Bacchante, by and published by Charles Knight, after  George Romney - NPG D46094

Emma Hamilton as a Bacchante

by and published by Charles Knight, after George Romney
stipple engraving, published 17 June 1797
NPG D46094

Emma Hamilton ('Dido, in despair!'), by James Gillray, published by  Hannah Humphrey - NPG D13034

Emma Hamilton ('Dido, in despair!')

by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching and stipple engraving, published 6 February 1801
NPG D13034

Emma Hamilton, by Henry Bone, probably after  Elisabeth-Louise Vigée-Le Brun - NPG D17508

Emma Hamilton

by Henry Bone, probably after Elisabeth-Louise Vigée-Le Brun
pencil drawing squared in ink for transfer, July 1803
NPG D17508

Emma Hamilton, by K. Mackenzie, published by  Vernor & Hood, after  William Mineard Bennett - NPG D23540

Emma Hamilton

by K. Mackenzie, published by Vernor & Hood, after William Mineard Bennett
stipple engraving, published 1803
NPG D23540

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