Sir William Hamilton
(1730-1803), Diplomat and archaeologistMid-Georgian Portraits Catalogue Entry
Sitter in 13 portraits
British diplomat to Naples, between 1764 and 1800, Hamilton was also a distinguished antiquary. His collection of Greek and Etruscan vases was bought for the British Museum. In addition, Hamilton was fascinated by the study of volcanoes and made twenty-two ascents of Vesuvius. However, he is also remembered today for being the husband of Emma, mistress of Nelson.
by David Allan
oil on canvas, 1775
NPG 589
by Sir Joshua Reynolds
oil on canvas, 1777
NPG 680
by William Sharp
line engraving, late 18th century
NPG D35270
by Giovanni Elia Morghen, after Hugh Douglas Hamilton
line engraving, 1790s
NPG D19592
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
Sir William Hamilton ('From Sir William Hamilton's collection')
by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching, published 8 May 1801
NPG D12761
by William Thomas Fry, published by T. Cadell & W. Davies, after Charles Grignion, after Hugh Douglas Hamilton
stipple engraving, published 27 March 1817
NPG D35271
by William Thomas Fry, published by T. Cadell & W. Davies, after Charles Grignion, after Hugh Douglas Hamilton
stipple engraving, published 27 March 1817
NPG D14099
by Samuel William Reynolds, after Sir Joshua Reynolds
mezzotint, published 1820
NPG D2580
by Charles Algernon Tomkins, after Sir Joshua Reynolds
mezzotint, mid 19th century (1777-1779)
NPG D32325
by Charles Algernon Tomkins, after Sir Joshua Reynolds
mezzotint, mid 19th century (1777-1779)
NPG D35196
by Vincent Brooks, after Sir Joshua Reynolds
lithograph, mid 19th century (1777-1779)
NPG D35197
Comments back to top
We are currently unable to accept new comments, but any past comments are available to read below.
If you need information from us, please use our Archive enquiry service . Please note that we cannot provide valuations. You can buy a print or greeting card of most illustrated portraits. Select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Buy a Print button. Prices start at around £6 for unframed prints, £16 for framed prints. If you wish to license an image, select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Use this image button, or contact our Rights and Images service. We digitise over 8,000 portraits a year and we cannot guarantee being able to digitise images that are not already scheduled.
Related pages
- Only Connect - William Hamilton <> Charles Burney
- Love Stories
- Love stories: art, passion and tragedy
- Emma Hamilton
- Clubs
- Collectors and connoisseurs
- Only Connect - William Hamilton <> Wolfgang Mozart
- Only Connect - William Hamilton <> Emma Hamilton
- Only Connect - William Hamilton <> Joseph Haydn
- Only Connect - William Hamilton <> Horatio Nelson