Emma Hamilton

This portraitback to top

Probably drawn following Emma’s final return from Naples in November 1800, NPG 2941 shows her in an attitude derived from classical sculpture. Other miniatures of Emma attributed to Cosway and listed by Williamson, [1] are not convincingly identified.

Footnotesback to top

1) G. C. Williamson, Richard Cosway, 1905, pp 111, 122 and f.p.108.

Physical descriptionback to top

The eyes are grey; there is the suggestion of a classical pillar to the left.

Provenanceback to top

Bequeathed by H. W. Murray 1938.

Exhibitionsback to top

Kauffmann und ihr Zeitgenossen, 1968 (181); Lady Hamilton, Kenwood 1972 (92); Van Dyck in Check Trousers, Edinburgh, 1978 (48); The Artist's Model, Nottingham, Kenwood, 1991 (35); Richard & Maria Cosway, Edinburgh, NPG, 1995 (102).


This extended catalogue entry is from the out-of-print National Portrait Gallery collection catalogue: John Ingamells, National Portrait Gallery: Mid-Georgian Portraits 1760-1790, National Portrait Gallery, 2004, and is as published then. For the most up-to-date details on individual Collection works, we recommend reading the information provided in the Search the Collection results on this website in parallel with this text.

View all known portraits for Richard Cosway

View all known portraits for Emma (née Lyon), Lady Hamilton