Hugh Douglas Hamilton, Portrait Painter
(b. 1739, d. 1808)
Portrait Painter *
From A Dictionary of Irish Artists 1913
Hugh Douglas Hamilton. Picture by George Chinnery; in Royal Hibernian Academy.
Within the last few years the art of Hugh Douglas Hamilton has begun to attract attention in the London sale-rooms, and his little pasted portraits, facile in art and harmonious in colour, so popular in his life-time, are now again sought for. Of the artist himself few details either of his life or works have hitherto been recorded; the published biographical notices of him are meagre; even the date of his birth and death are incorrectly given. In Bryan's and in Redgrave's Dictionaries and in the "Dictionary of National Biography" his birth is stated to have taken place "about 1734," the year of his death is given as 1806, and he is credited as having been a member of the Royal Hibernian Academy, a body which did not come into existence until some fifteen years after his death.
Hugh Douglas Hamilton was the son of a peruke-maker in Crow Street, Dublin. No record of his birth has been found; but the date was certainly later than "about 1734," as usually given. John O'Keeffe, who was born in 1747, says that "he might have been five years my elder" ("Recollections"), which would place his birth about 1742, certainly too late. But O'Keeffe is inaccurate in his dates even about himself. As, according to the records of the Dublin Society, Hamilton was "just over sixteen" in 1756, his birth may be fixed as in the year 1739. In 1750 he was placed by the Dublin Society under the tuition of Robert West in his drawing school in George's Lane, where his industry was rewarded with several prizes. In a competition for pattern-designing in 1756 he produced the best drawing, but the prize was withheld owing to his being then just over sixteen years of age; he was, however, given a bounty of four pounds. Soon afterwards he commenced practice as a portrait-painter in crayons. His little portraits, being faithful likenesses, full of expression and charm, quickly done and cheap, became the vogue, and the artist soon obtained a considerable practice.† These portraits are ovals about 9 ½ by 7 ½ inches in size, slightly executed upon grey paper in black and white chalk, finished with coloured chalks.
After some years successful practice in Dublin Hamilton was tempted to try his fortune in London. He arrived there in, or perhaps a little previous to, 1764. In that year he was awarded a premium by the Society of Arts for a "chiaro-oscuro" of "Priam and Hercules lamenting over the corpse of Hector." In 1765 he won the prize of sixty guineas for an oil picture of "Boadicea and her daughters in distress," and obtained another prize in 1769. Though all these were in oil, Hamilton continued his work in pastel, and his portraits in that medium became as popular in London as they had been in Dublin. In 1765, his address being then "at Mr. Lee's, Broad Court, Long Acre," he sent to the exhibition of the Free Society of Artists two small whole-length portraits in crayons. In the following year he was in Orchard Street, Portman Square, and sent three small whole-lengths to the Society of Artists; and in 1767, from Broad Street, he contributed a small whole-length of a lady and a "Portrait of Lord Halifax in conversation with his Secretary." In 1769 he sent over to the Society of Artists in Dublin two small full-length portraits. In 1770 he established himself in Pall Mall, at the house of a Mr. Ireland, an apothecary, part of which was occupied by a fashionable milliner. Of her he did a portrait which was hung up in her room, and was so much admired by her customers that the artist soon found himself overwhelmed with business, and he could scarcely execute all the orders that came to him. So busy was he that he had to put off to the evenings the picking out and gathering up of the guineas from among the bran and broken crayons in his crayon boxes, where in the hurry of the day he had thrown them. In that year, 1770, he exhibited at the Society of Artists twelve portraits in chalks, including one of the Duke of Gloucester, and in the following year, 1771, he contributed sixteen portraits, all anonymous.
Hugh Douglas Hamilton. Engraved by W. Holl.
He remained in Pall Mall two years, and then took a house in St. Martin's Lane, and built in the rear a large and commodious painting room. In this house he lived for five years, fully occupied in an extensive and fashionable practice, and exhibiting with the Society of Artists. In 1778 Hamilton went to Italy and settled in Rome, visiting also Florence, where he stayed for a time. He drew the portraits of many English and Irish visitors to Italy and made many friends, whom he kept throughout his life. He sent a few works to the Royal Academy: a portrait group in crayons of "Lady Cowper and her sister Miss Gore," and "An English Traveller" (Mr. Merry), from Florence, in 1787; and "Portraits of a Sculptor and Friend" from Rome, in 1791. Whilst in Rome he became acquainted with Flaxman, who formed a high opinion of his abilities as an artist, and urged him to take up the palette and brush and give his talents a larger field for their exercise. Following this advice, Hamilton took up painting in oils, and henceforth confined himself chiefly to painting portraits in that medium. After a stay in Italy of nearly twelve years, he returned in 1791 to Ireland, and settled in Dublin as a portrait-painter. He quickly established a reputation, and in his house in Clare Street, at the corner of Merrion Square, his studio was soon crowded with his patrons. He painted both whole and half-lengths life size, which were faithful and dignified likenesses, and was particularly successful in portraits of old men, whom he portrayed with much vigour.
His women were marked by refinement and grace, and he was also happy with children. His heads are well and strongly modelled, but in his full-lengths the portrayal of the figure is weak, displaying uncertain knowledge of the human form and some awkwardness of pose, although his arrangement and treatment of drapery is effective. Hamilton did not confine himself entirely to portraiture, but essayed several classical subjects. At an exhibition held in Dame Street by the Society of Artists of the city of Dublin in 1800, he made his first appearance as an exhibitor of oil pictures, sending four works, including "Cupid and Psyche in the Nuptial Bower," "perhaps," says the "Hibernian Magazine" (1800), "the most perfect picture ever produced in this country," and "The Rev. Dean Kirwan pleading the cause of the destitute Orphans." This picture, a large canvas 8 ½ feet high by 9 ½ feet wide, was painted for the Governors of the Female Orphan House on the North Circular Road, Dublin, where the artist's receipt for payment is still preserved. A contemporary notice describes the picture as "a masterpiece of excellence" ("Dublin Evening Post," June, 1800); and the "Hibernian Journal" has the following outburst: "The 'St. Paul at Lystra' of Raphael can now no longer be said, as the paragon of invention, to surpass all others; the mimic scene before us is wrought up with a subtlety no less sublime"! The picture remained in the Orphan House until 1833, when Mr. Walter Blake Kirwan, son of the Dean, offered it on loan to the Royal Dublin Society, although it does not appear how he was entitled to do so. It remained in the Society's house in Kildare Street for many years, and in 1853 was sent to the Dublin Exhibition. At the close of the exhibition it was removed by the family and retained by them. It is now in the possession of Mrs. Kirwan, Dennistown, Camberley. The picture was engraved in mezzotint by W. Ward and published in 1806.
Hamilton again exhibited in Dublin in 1801 and 1802, contributing ten pictures in the former year, and a portrait of "John Foster, the late Speaker of the House of Commons" in the latter. In 1804 he sent to the exhibition held by the Hibernian Society of Artists in the Dublin Society's house in Hawkins Street, fourteen pictures, including a "Portrait of Lord Kilwarden" and other portraits of notable personages, as well as two works which were much esteemed at the time, "Tisiphone" and a "Head of the Medusa."
After 1804, Hamilton was obliged, on account of failing health, to discontinue the practice of his profession to a great extent. He devoted himself to the study of chemistry, always a favourite subject with him, especially in the direction of the nature and permanence of pigments. In his retirement, although he was soon forgotten by the public, he retained the respect and attachment of his many friends. He was, says a writer who knew him, "ardent and steady in his attachments; his manners were those of the perfect gentleman; full of information, entertaining an affectionate regard for the talented members of his profession, and always willing to make the most unreserved communication of his knowledge and practice to all who sought it" (T. M[ulvany] in "Dublin Penny Journal").
Hamilton died in his house in Lower Mount Street, Dublin, on 10th February, 1808.
A portrait of him, by George Chinnery, is in the Council Room of the Royal Hibernian Academy.
He left a daughter, Harriott, born about 1769, who was herself an artist of some ability, though she chiefly confined herself to copying the works of the Old Masters. She was with her father in Italy, where her accomplishments and charm of manner made her a favourite in society. Flaxman said that he had never met a young woman whose attainments and whose manners so thoroughly commanded his respect and esteem as those of Miss Hamilton. Her father, at the time of his death, had in hand a portrait of Richard Kirwan, commissioned by the Dublin Society. Of this he completed only the head. In January, 1810, Miss Hamilton was asked to finish the picture; and this she did, though not until 1816. On the 17th October of that year she wrote to the Society that she had finished the picture. From this letter we gather that Hamilton's charge for a whole-length portrait was one hundred and twenty guineas. Harriott Hamilton lived for some time after her father's death at No. 2 Park Street, Dublin, and married in 1817 a Mr. John Way. As Mrs. Way she exhibited in the Royal Hibernian Academy in 1826 a portrait of "Mrs. Charles R. Elrington," now in possession of Mr. F. Elrington Ball, Booterstown House, Co. Dublin, and one of "Cornelius Lyne, Barrister"; and in 1827 two anonymous portraits. The Royal Hibernian Academy purchased from her in 1828 a number of books and prints. The year of her death has not been ascertained.
Hamilton's crayon portraits are usually busts in small ovals, but occasionally he produced full-length figures. His scheme of colour was very simple and harmonious, the faces well drawn, and the eyes expressive and full of life. His little portraits vary in method of execution; some are slightly sketched in black chalk with a little colour added in pastel. Walpole, in a note on Hamilton's portraits exhibited at the Society of Artists in 1770, says: "They are very pretty. These drawings are upon a flesh-coloured paper, black and white chalk and here and there a touch of crayons" (Graves's Catalogue of Exhibitions of Free Society and Society of Artists). It would appear from this and other references that Hamilton's work at that time was much slighter and with less use of pastel than is seen in most of his work. A "Portrait of a Lady" signed and dated 1770, perhaps one of those Walpole saw in the exhibition of that year, is in the National Gallery of Ireland, and agrees fairly well with Walpole's description. As a rule, however, Hamilton's drawings are in pastel, the black chalk being used only to give effect to the hair, eyes, etc., and in the modelling of the face. His signature, with date, is found only on the portraits done by him in England; no signed portrait in crayons done by him in Ireland has been met with. Two portraits in black and white chalk without any colour are at Malahide Castle. Many of his crayon portraits, about twenty in all, were engraved in mezzotint, and he was fortunate in having such interpreters as Houston, J. R. Smith, V. Green, Earlom, and James Watson.
Hamilton repeated many of his crayon portraits several times. The following is a list of his recorded works and of such named portraits as have been found:
Mrs. John Aislaby, of Studley. Crayon. [Sir Edward F. Coates, Queen Ann's Lodge, London.]
Countess of Albany, daughter of Prince Charles Edward Stuart and Clementina Walkinshaw. Crayons. Reproduced as "Portrait of a Lady" in the "Connoisseur," Vol. V, and identified by Mr. Caw, Director of the National Portrait Gallery of Scotland.
George, 6th Duke of Argyll. Crayons. [Sir G. Charles Russell, Bart., Swallowfield Park, Reading.]
Mrs. Atkinson. Oil picture. Ex. Dublin, 1804.
Lady Elizabeth Baker, daughter of W. R., Duke of Leinster. Crayons. [Duke of Leinster, Carton.]
Mrs. Banks. Crayons. Engraved in mezzotint by R. Lawrie, 1772.
Isaac Barré. Crayons. Engraved in mezzotint by R. Houston, 1771.
Isaac Barré. Crayons. [Late Baroness Burdett-Coutts.]
Sir Jonah Barrington. Oil picture. Engraved by J. Heath for Barrington's "Historic Memoirs," 1810, when it was in the possession of the Earl of Charlemont.
Somerset, 2nd Earl of Belmore. Oil picture. [Earl of Belmore.]
Mary Anne, Countess of Belmore. See Caldwell.
George A., 2nd Earl of Belvidere, and his cousin, J. Handcock. Oil picture. [W. Rochford, Cahir Abbey, Co. Tipperary.]
Barbara, wife of Rt. Hon. John Beresford. Crayons. [Lord Talbot de Malahide.]
Miss Beresford. Crayons. [Lord Talbot de Malahide.]
Lady Frances Beresford, daughter of 1st Earl of Milltown, mourning at the tomb of her husband. Oil picture. Ex. Dublin, 1801.
Charles Bidwell, D.D. Engraved in mezzotint by C. Turner.
Margaret, Lady Bingham, afterwards Countess of Lucan. Crayons. Hamilton delin. 1774, formerly at Strawberry Hill; lent to South Kensington in 1865 by Mrs. Newman Smith.
— Bisset, Oil picture. Ex. Dublin, 1804.
Frances, wife of Richard Bourke, Bishop of Waterford, "Giddy Fanny." Oil picture. [Earl of Mayo.]
Charles Brodrick, Archbishop of Cashel. Oil picture. [Lord Midleton.] Engraved in mezzotint by C. Turner.
Mrs. Brooksbank. Crayons. Engraved in mezzotint by J. R. Smith, 1772.
Arthur Browne, LL.D., M.P. for Dublin University. Oil picture. [Provost's House, Trinity College, Dublin.]
Elizabeth Bull, daughter of Richard Bull, M.P., collector of engraved portraits. Crayons. Engraved in mezzotint by Joseph Strutt.
Henry Burgh. Oil picture. Engraved by J. Heath for Barrington's "Historic Memoirs," 1810, when it was in possession of Sir John Macartney.
Thomas Burgh of Oldtown. Crayons. [Lieut.-Col. T. J. De Burgh, Oldtown, Co. Kildare.]
Walter Hussey Burgh. Oil picture. [George Wolfe, Forenaughts, Co. Kildare.]
Walter Hussey Burgh. Crayons. Engraved in mezzotint by W. Barnard from the original, then in possession of Sir Jerome Fitzpatrick; perhaps one of those mentioned below.
Walter Hussey Burgh. Crayons. [Lieut.-Col. T. J. De Burgh, Oldtown, Co. Kildare.]
Walter Hussey Burgh. Crayons. [ Duke of Leinster, Carton.]
Walter Hussey Burgh. Crayons. [Captain Conolly, Castletown.]
Walter Hussey Burgh. Crayons. [T. P. Le Fanu, Abington, Bray.]
William Burton-Conyngham. Crayons. [National Gallery of Ireland.] Engraved in mezzotint by V.Green, 1780.
Mary Anne Caldwell, afterwards Countess of Belmore. Oil picture. [Earl of Belmore.]
John, 6th Lord Carbery. Crayons. [Sir George Brooke, Bart., Gardiner's Row, Dublin.]
Henry, 2nd Earl of Carhampton. Crayons. [National Gallery of Ireland.]
Lady Almeria Carpenter. Crayons, Engraved by T. Cecchini.
Lord Castlereagh. Oil picture. Ex. Dublin, 1804.
Lady Isabella de Chabot, daughter of W. R., Duke of Leinster. Crayons. [Duke of Leinster, Carton.]
Tankerville Chamberlain, Justice of the King's Bench. Oil picture. Lent to the Dublin Exhibition, 1872, by Tankerville Chamberlain.
Mrs. Tankerville Chamberlain. Oil picture. Lent to the Dublin Exhibition, 1872, by Tankerville Chamberlain.
James, 1st Earl of Charlemont. Oil picture. Engraved by J. Heath, for Barrington's "Historic Memoirs," 1810; then in possession of the Earl of Charlemont.
Catherine Maria, Countess of Charleville, as a Bacchante. Engraved in stipple by J. Thomson in La Belle Assemblée, 1825, and in Burke's "Portrait Gallery of Distinguished Females," 1833.
Richard, 1st Earl of Clancarty. Crayons. [Captain Conolly, Castletown.]
Lady Clancarty. Crayons. See under Pakenham.
John Fitzgibbon, Earl of Clare, Lord Chancellor of Ireland, in robes. Oil picture. [National Gallery of Ireland.] Full length. Formerly at Mount Shannon, Co. Limerick.
Anne, Countess of Clare. Oil picture. Lent to the Dublin Exhibition of 1872 by Colonel Meadows Taylor, of Old Court, Harold's Cross.
Countess of Clermont. Crayons. [Lord Rossmore.]
John, 1st Earl of Clonmell. Oil picture. In his "Private Diary," p. 407, Lord Clonmell writes: "Hamilton said, when he painted my picture, that one eye was smiling or had a joke in it, and the other thinking and serious. I believe he fairly copied the original, the habit of my whole life being to do my business in comedy."
Lady Louisa Conolly. Crayons. [Duke of Leinster, Carton.]
Thomas Conolly. Crayons. [Duke of Leinster, Carton.]
Thomas Conolly. Crayons. [Captain Conolly, Castletown.]
Elizabeth (Dennis), Lady Conyngham and Child. Oil picture. [Marquess Conyngham, Slane Castle.] Ex. Dublin, 1801; described in anonymous "Journal" in R.I.A. (24, 6, 14-15).
Anne, Countess of Cork and Orrery. Crayons. Engraved in mezzotint by James Watson, 1771; a smaller print published by Sayer in 1772.
Charles, Earl Cornwallis. Crayons. Engraved by Bartolozzi, 1781, and by D. Berger.
Lady Louisa Corry. Oil picture. [Earl of Sandwich, Hinchingbroke.] Ex. Dublin, 1804.
Anne, Countess Cowper and her sister, Miss Gore. Crayons. Done in Florence and sent to R.A., 1787.
Elizabeth Cox. Crayons; Engraved by Laurie, 1772.
Major-General Sir John Cradock. Oil picture. Ex. Dublin, 1804.
Lady Craven. Crayons. Society of Artists, London, 1775.
John Philpot Curran. Oil picture. [National Gallery of Ireland.] Formerly belonged to Mrs. Kirkpatrick, Donacomper, Co. Kildare.
Sir William Cusack-Smith, 2nd Bart., Baron of the Exchequer. Head only painted by Hamilton; the rest by another hand. [Sir Berry Cusack-Smith, K.C.M.G., Redlands, Maidenhead.]
Right Hon. Denis Daly. Crayons. [National Gallery of Ireland.]
James Dawkins. Crayons. Collection of Rev. E. H. Dawkins, Christie's, 28th February, 1913.
Richard Dawson, M.P. Oil picture (?). Engraved by J. Heath for Barrington's "Historic Memoirs," "from a painting by Hamilton in possession of the Countess of Aldborough."
Robert Day, Justice of the King's Bench. Oil picture. [Colonel John Day, R.E.]
Mrs. Day, wife of above. Oil picture. [Rev. H. L. L. Denny.]
William Deane. Engraved by R. Cooper; private plate.
Elizabeth, Lady Denny, only child of Judge Day. Oil picture. [Rev. H. L. L. Denny.]
Edward, 12th Earl of Derby. Crayons. Signed and dated 1773. [Earl of Derby, Knowsley.]
Elizabeth, Countess of Derby. Crayons. Engraved by G. T. Stubbs.
Chevalier d'Estours. Crayons. [Duke of Leinster, Carton.]
S. Digby. Crayons. [Captain Conolly, Castletown.]
S. Digby. Crayons. [Duke of Leinster, Carton.]
Mrs. Dominick. Crayons. [Duke of Leinster, Carton.]
Anne, Marchioness of Donegal. Oil picture. [ Earl of Shaftesbury.]
William Downes, Chief Justice of the King's Bench. Oil picture. Engraved by H. Brocas in "Hibernian Magazine," May, 1810.
Wills, 1st Marquess of Downshire. Crayons. Christie's, 8th July, 191o. Bought with picture below by A. Wertheimer for £68 5s.
Margaretta, Marchioness of Downshire. Crayons. Christie's, 8th July, 1910.
Randal, 13th Lord Dunsany. Oil picture. [Lord Dunsany.]
Richard L. Edgeworth. Oil picture, [Francis Y. Edgeworth, Edgeworthstown.] Ex. Dublin, 1800; described in a contemporary paper as the best portrait in the room. South Kensington, 1867.
Charles, 1st Marquess of Ely, oil picture. The ownership of this picture has not been found; but a copy by Martin Cregan belongs to Major Tottenham, Woodstock, Co. Wicklow. [From Additions and Corrections].
Thomas Everard. Crayons. [Lord Talbot de Malahide.]
Rev. John Falkiner. Crayons. [Duke of Leinster, Carton.]
Matthias Finucane, Justice of the Common Pleas. Oil picture. [H. V. Macnamara, Ennistymon.]
Lord Edward Fitzgerald. (1o) Oil picture. [National Gallery of Ireland.] Painted in 1798 for the Duchess of Leinster, Lord Edward's mother. It remained in her possession after her second marriage, and passed on her death to her daughter Mrs. Beauclerk. From the latter's grandson, Mr. Aubrey de Vere Beauclerk of Ardglass, it was purchased by the Duke of Leinster, who presented it to the National Gallery of Ireland in 1884. Engraved by T. A. Dean as frontispiece to Moore's "Life of Lord Edward Fitzgerald." In a letter from Lady Louisa Conolly to Lord Henry Fitzgerald, written in June, 1798, immediately after Lord Edward's death, two pictures of Lord Edward are referred to—one painted for the Dowager Duchess, and the other for Lord Henry (Moore's "Life," Vol. II, p. 49). The first of these is that now in the National Gallery of Ireland, noticed above; the second is probably the following picture:
Lord Edward Fitzgerald. (2o) Oil picture. [Mrs. Paley, St. Catherine's Court, Bath.]
Lord Edward Fitzgerald. (3o) Oil picture. [Duke of Leinster, Kilkea Castle.] Purchased from the artist's daughter. Similar to No. 2.
Lord Edward Fitzgerald. (4o) Oil picture. [Lord Cloncurry, Lyons, Co. Kildare.]Similar to No. 2; ? a copy.
Lord Edward Fitzgerald. (5o) Oil picture. [Earl of Ilchester, Holland House.] A copy or replica, similar to No. 2.
Lord Edward Fitzgerald. (6o) Oil picture; an unfinished portrait. Was in the collection of Mr. Gernon, dealer, 34 Molesworth Street, Dublin, sold in Dublin in January, 1834.
Lord Edward Fitzgerald. (7o) Oil picture, bust. [Duke of Leinster, Carton.] A miniature copy, on card, by Horace Hone, of this picture, is in the National Gallery of Ireland.
Lord Edward Fitzgerald. (8o) Oil picture. Lent to Dublin Ex., 1865, by Lady Campbell.
Lord Gerald Fitzgerald. Crayons. Duke of Leinster, Carton.]
Lord Henry Fitzgerald. Crayons. [Duke of Leinster, Carton.]
Lady Mary and Lady Emily Fitzgerald. Crayons; 1 ft. 3 ½ in. by 1 ft. 8 in. [Duke of Leinster, Carton.]
Lord Robert Fitzgerald. Crayons. [Duke of Leinster, Carton.]
Lady Sophia Fitzgerald. Crayons. [ Duke of Leinster, Carton.]
Lord William Fitzgerald. Crayons. [Duke of Leinster, Carton.]
Cecilia, Lady Foley, daughter of William Robert, Duke of Leinster. Crayons. [Duke of Leinster, Carton.]
Lady Lucy Foley. Crayons. [Duke of Leinster, Carton.]
Lady Adelaide Forbes. Oil picture, unfinished. [Earl of Granard.]
Joe Foster, an old servant at Carton, going to ring the bell. Crayons; 2 ft. 4 in. by 11 ft. 8 in. [Duke of Leinster, Carton.]
John Foster, Speaker of the Irish House of Commons. Oil picture. [Viscount Masserene.] Ex. Dublin, 1802.
John Foster, Speaker, Oil picture, a replica of last. [Mansion House, Dublin.]
John Foster, Speaker. Crayons. [Lieut.-Col. T. J. De Burgh, Oldtown, Co. Kildare.]
Charles James Fox. Crayons. [Duke of Leinster, Carton.]
Charles James Fox. Crayons. [Captain Conolly, Castletown.]
William H., Duke of Gloucester. Crayons. Society of Artists, London, 1770. Engraved in mezzotint by R. Earlom, 1771.
Mrs. Graham. Crayons. A miniature copy of this was exhibited by Horace Hone in R.A., 1808.
George, 6th Earl of Granard. Oil picture. [Earl of Granard.]
Selina, Countess of Granard. [Earl of Granard.]
Selina, Countess of Granard. Crayons, large size.
Elizabeth B. Gulston. Crayons. Engraved in mezzotint by R. Earlom, 1771.
Joseph Gulston. Crayons. Engraved in mezzotint by James Watson, 1776; in line by S. Bellin as frontispiece to Nicholl's "Literary Anecdotes," Vol. V, 1828; and etched, in reverse, by E. B. Gulston, 1772.
Surgeon John Halahan. Oil picture. [Royal College of Surgeons, Dublin.] Halahan was Professor of Anatomy to the Hibernian Society of Artists, and the portrait was presented to him by the Society in 1814. His family afterwards gave it to the College of Surgeons.
Lord Halifax, in conversation with his Secretary. Crayons. Society of Artists, London, 1767.
Henry Hamilton. Oil picture. Ex. Dublin, 1804.
— Hamilton, son of Sackville Hamilton. Oil picture. Ex. Dublin, 1800.
Hugh Hamilton, Bishop of Ossory. Oil picture. [Colonel Johnston, Kilmore, Co. Armagh.]
Thomas Hammersley, Banker. Engraved in stipple by Richard Golding, 1822; private plate.
Mrs. Hammersley. Crayons. Engraved by J. R. Smith.
J. Handcock. See under Belvedere.
Simon, Earl Harcourt. Crayons. [Rt. Hon. L. A. Waldron, Marino, Ballybrack.]
Philip, 3rd Earl of Hardwicke, Lord Lieutenant. Oil picture. Ex. Dublin, 1804.
Francis Hardy. Oil picture. [Earl of Granard.]
Elizabeth Hartley, Actress. Crayons. [Duke of Leinster, Carton.] Engraved in mezzotint by R. Houston, 1774.
Captain Harvey. Crayons. Christie's, 7th June, 1912.
Professor Higgins. Oil picture.
Henry John Hinchcliffe. Crayons. Signed Hamilton Pr. Roma, 1789. [Nottingham Museum.]
Henry, 1st Lord Holland. Crayons. [Duke of Leinster, Carton.]
Lady Horton. See Stanley.
Lord Howe. Crayons. [Captain Conolly, Castletown.]
Samuel Ireland. Crayons. Etched by Samuel Ireland.
Polly Jones. Crayons. Engraved in mezzotint by James Watson, 1771.
Hugh Kelly, Dramatist. Crayons. Engraved in mezzotint by J. Boydell as frontispiece to his "Dramatic Works," 1778.
Mary, Countess of Kildare. Crayons. [Duke of Leinster, Carton.]
Arthur Wolfe, Lord Kilwarden. Oil picture; painted in 1795. [National Gallery of Ireland.] Engraved by F. Bartolozzi in 1800, and by J. Martyn for "Hibernian Magazine," 1803.
Arthur Wolfe, Lord Kilwarden, in wig and robes. Oil picture. Engraved by J. Heath for Barrington's "Historic Memoirs," 1810, when the picture was in possession of John Pollock. Perhaps the picture exhibited in Dublin in 1804.
Arthur Wolfe, Lord Kilwarden. Oil picture; the property of B. Watkins, dealer, sold in Dublin in November, 1850.
Anne, Lady Kilwarden. Oil picture. [George Wolfe, Forenaughts, Co. Kildare.]
Olivia, Lady Kinnaird, daughter of W. R., Duke of Leinster. Crayons. [Duke of Leinster, Carton.]
Richard Kirwan. Oil picture. [Royal Dublin Society.] This picture was begun to the order of the Dublin Society, but the face only was finished at the time of the artist's death. It was completed by the artist's daughter, and delivered to the Society in 1816.
Rev. Walter Blake Kirwan Pleading the Cause of the Destitute Orphans. Oil picture. [Mrs. Kirwan, Dennistown, Camberley.] This picture, 8 ½ ft. by 9 ½ ft., was painted in 1800 for the Governors of the Female Orphan House, North Circular Road, and exhibited in Dublin the same year. It was deposited on loan in the Royal Dublin Society's House in 1833. It was sent to the Dublin Exhibition of 1853, and was not returned to the Dublin Society, but, in some way, passed into the possession of the Kirwan family. The picture was engraved in mezzotint by W. Ward and published by W. Allen, Dublin, in 1806. The print was dedicated to the Earl of Hardwicke, Lord Lieutenant. A small version in monochrome, probably done for the engraver, was in the La Touche collection at Bellevue, Co. Wicklow, and now belongs to the Right Hon. L. A. Waldron, Marino, Ballybrack.
Rev. Walter Blake Kirwan. Oil picture. In gown, seated and holding a book. Christie's, 22nd November, 1912.
Mary King. Crayons. Engraved in mezzotint by J. R. Smith, 1772.
Thomas King. Crayons. Engraved in mezzotint by J. R. Smith, 1772.
Major-General the Hon. John Knox. Oil picture. [Earl of Ranfurly, Northland House.]
Robert, 3rd Earl of Lanesborough. Crayons. [Duke of Leinster, Carton.]
David La Touche. Oil picture. [Captain C. Colthurst Vesey, Lucan House.] Ex. Dublin, 1804. Engraved by Fittler.
Mrs. La Touche, wife of above. Oil picture. [Captain C. Colthurst Vesey, Lucan House.]
David La Touche. Oil picture. [National Gallery of Ireland.]
David La Touche, Crayons. [Captain C. Colthurst Vesey, Lucan House.] Engraved by J. K. Sherwin.
David La Touche. Crayons. Formerly at Bellevue, Co. Wicklow.
David La Touche. Crayons. [Captain C. Colthurst Vesey, Lucan House.]
Mrs. La Touche. Crayons. [Captain C. Colthurst Vesey, Lucan House.]
Peter La Touche. Crayons, [Captain C. Colthurst Vesey, Lucan House.]
Emily La Touche. daughter of D. La Touche, afterwards Mrs. Vesey. Crayons. [Captain C. Colthurst Vesey, Lucan House.]
Mrs. La Touche. Crayons, [E. J. Duveen.]
Two Daughters of D. La Touche; one of them afterwards Countess of Lanesborough. Crayons, large size. [Captain C. Colthurst Vesey, Lucan House.]
Two daughters of D. La Touche; afterwards Mrs. Jeffries and Lady Colthurst. Crayons. Formerly at Bellevue, and sold there in 1906.
Charles, Lord Lecale. Crayons. [Duke of Leinster, Carton.]
William Robert, Duke of Leinster. Oil picture. [Duke of Leinster, Kilkea Castle.]
William Robert, Duke of Leinster. Crayons. [Duke of Leinster, Carton.]
William Robert, Duke of Leinster. Crayons. Large size, 2 ft. 8 ½ in. by 2 ft. 5 in, [Duke of Leinster, Carton.]
Emilia Olivia, Duchess of Leinster. Crayons. [Duke of Leinster, Carton.]
Emilia Olivia, Duchess of Leinster. Crayons. 2 ft. 8 ½ in. by 2 ft. 2 in. [Duke of Leinster, Carton.]
Emilia Olivia. Duchess of Leinster. Crayons. [Captain Conolly, Castletown.]
M. Le Texier, the famous French Reader. Oil picture; a half-length, holding an open book in his hand. Ex. Dublin, 1801. Possibly the picture at Woodstock, Co. Kilkenny, called a Portrait of Edward Tighe. See infra.
Robert, 1st Lord Londonderry. Oil picture. Ex. Dublin, 1800.
Edward Michael, 2nd Earl of Longford. Crayons. [ Earl of Longford, Pakenham Hall.] Engraved by H. Meyer, 1820.
Lady Lucan. See Bingham.
Admiral McBride, Oil Picture. [Late Dr. Evory Kennedy.]
Mrs. McDonnell. Oil picture. [Charles R. A. McDonnell, New Hall, Co. Clare.]
Mrs. McNamara of Doolin, née Finucane. Oil picture. [H. V. McNamara, Ennistymon.]
William Magee, afterwards Archbishop of Dublin. Oil picture. [Rev. W. C. Magee, Dean of Cork, 1868.]
Richard Marlay, Bishop of Waterford. Oil picture. [Sir H. Grattan Bellew, Bart., Tinnehinch.] Engraved by J. Heath for Barrington's "Historic Memoirs." Horace Hone exhibited a copy in enamel in R.A., 1806. Another copy by him on paper is in the National Gallery of Ireland.
Richard Marlay, when Dean of Ferns. Crayons. [Duke of Leinster, Carton.]
Elizabeth Marlay, daughter of above and afterwards wife of David La Touche. Crayons. Formerly at Bellevue.
John Monck Mason. Crayons. [Right Hon. L. A. Waldron, Marino, Ballybrack.]
Harriett, Viscountess Masserene. Oil picture, [Viscount Masserene and Ferrard.]
Robert Merry. Crayons. Done in Florence and exhibited in R.A., 1787, as "An English Traveller." Engraved by T. Collyer as frontispiece to "British Album," 1789.
Joseph, 2nd Earl of Milltown. Crayons. [Duke of Leinster, Carton.]
Francis, Earl of Moira. Oil picture. Ex. Dublin, 1804. Perhaps the picture engraved by J. Heath for Barrington's "Historic Memoirs."
William Newcome, Archbishop of Armagh. Oil picture. [Pembroke College, Oxford.] Engraved in stipple by C. Knight.
Hon. G. Newcomen. Oil picture. Ex. Dublin, 1804.
Hugh, Duke of Northumberland. Crayons. Engraved in mezzotint by J. Finlayson.
Barbara Nugent. See O'Reilly.
"Wife of General Nugent, in costume of a Nun." Oil picture. Ex. Dublin, 1800.
Arthur O'Connor, in classical costume, addressing an assembly. Oil picture.
George, Lord Offaly. Crayons, Duke of Leinster, Carton.]
William Ogilvy. Crayons. [Duke of Leinster, Carton.]
Mrs. John Hamilton O'Hara of Crebilly (Mary, daughter of George Jackson, M.P.). Oil picture, painted in 1794. [Right Rev. H. S. O'Hara, Bishop of Cashel.] A portrait of her by Hoppner was at Christie's in December, 1911.
Sir Hugh O'Reilly of Ballinlough. Crayons. [Lord Talbot de Malahide.]
James O'Reilly of Ballinlough. Crayons. [Lord Talbot de Malahide.]
Barbara (Nugent), wife of last. Crayons. [ Lord Talbot de Malahide.]
General Arthur Ormsby. Crayons. [Duke of Leinster, Carton.]
Lady Pakenham and Lady Clancarty. Crayons. [Captain Conolly, Castletown.]
Dr. Patrick Plunket. [Lord Plunket, Old Connaught, Bray.]
W. Conyngham Plunket, Solicitor-General. Oil picture. [Lord Plunket, Old Connaught, Bray.] Ex. Dublin, 1804. Engraved by J. Jenkins for W. Cooke Taylor's "Life and Times of Sir Robert Peel," Vol. II.
Catherine Plunket, wife of above. Oil picture. [Lord Plunket, Old Connaught, Bray.]
General Pomeroy. Crayons. Christie's, 30th June, 1913.
Hon. George Ponsonby Pomeroy, fourth son of the first Viscount Harberton. Crayons. [G. P. Colley, Faunagh, Orwell Road, Rathgar.]
Thomas Rice, grandfather of the first Lord Monteagle. Oil picture. [Lord Monteagle.]
Mary (Bruce), Duchess of Richmond. Crayons. Formerly at Strawberry Hill.
William Hamilton Rowan. Crayons. [Captain Conolly, Castletown.]
Elizabeth, Lady St. George. Crayons. [Duke of Leinster, Carton.]
Colonel Richard St. George at the tomb of his wife. Oil picture. Ex. Dublin, 1801. "We have not amongst the best works of the British School a finer picture" ("Freeman's Journal"). Described in anonymous MS. "Journal" in R.I.A. (24, c. 14-15).
Richard St. George Mansergh St. George of Headfort, murdered in his house by the rebels in 1797. Oil picture, painted in 1800. [H. L. Bland, Blandsfort, Abbeyleix.]
Mr. St. George of Headfort. Oil painting. Collection of Major-General Birch, 40 Leeson Street, Dublin; sold in October, 1851.
Colonel Robert Sandford. Crayons. [ Duke of Leinster, Carton.]
Maria Sayer. Crayons. [Sir Edward F. Coates, Queen Anne's Lodge, London.]
Melusina de Schulenberg. Crayons. [Lord Talbot de Malahide.]
Henry Charles Sirr, Town-Major of Dublin. Oil picture. [Dr. Minchin, 4 Kenilworth Road, Rathgar.]
Sir Michael Smith, Master of the Rolls. Oil picture.
Lady Caroline Spencer. Crayons. Society of Artists, London, 1775.
Lady Elizabeth Spencer. Crayons. Society of Artists, London, 1775.
Charlotte Spencer, a much-admired lady of the demi-monde. Crayons. Engraved in mezzotint by V. Green, 1771.
Hon. Elizabeth Stanley, afterwards Lady Horton. Crayons. H. D. Hamilton Delinvt., 1773. [Earl of Derby, Knowsley.]
Hon. Thomas Stanley. Crayons. Dated 1773. [Earl of Derby, Knowsley.]
Admiral Stopford. Crayons. Christie's, 8th July, 1910.
James Talbot, afterwards 3rd Lord Talbot de Malahide. [Lord Talbot de Malahide.]
Margaret (O'Reilly), Lady Talbot de Malahide. Crayons. [Lord Talbot de Malahide.]
Colonel Richard Talbot. Crayons. [Lord Talbot de Malahide.]
Anne (Chambers), Countess Temple. Crayons. Signed and dated 1770. [National Portrait Gallery.] Formerly at Strawberry Hill. Engraved by W. Greatbach for Cunningham's edition of Walpole's "Letters," 1861, Vol. II.
William Tighe of Woodstock. Crayons. [Charles R. Hamilton, Hamwood, Dunboyne.]
Mrs. William Tighe, née Fownes. Crayons. [Charles R. Hamilton, Hamwood, Dunboyne.]
William Tighe of Woodstock. Oil picture. [E. K. Bunbury Tighe, Woodstock, Co. Kilkenny.]
Mrs. William Tighe, née Gahan. Oil picture. Signed and dated 1800. [E. K. Bunbury Tighe, Woodstock, Co. Kilkenny.] Ex. Dublin, 1801.
Edward Tighe. Oil picture. [E. K. Bunbury Tighe, Woodstock, Co. Kilkenny.] See also under Le Texier.
Henry Tresham and Chevalier Cazalo. Done in Rome and ex. R.A., 1791, as "Portrait of a Sculptor and Friend."
General Vallancey. Oil picture. Ex. Dublin, 1809, after the painter's death.
Selina Elizabeth, Lady de Vesci. Crayons. [Lord Talbot de Malahide.]
Thomas Waite, Secretary, Civil and Military Department, Ireland. Crayons. [Rt. Hon. L. A. Waldron, Marino, Ballybrack.]
Thomas, 4th Earl of Westmeath. Crayons. [Lord Talbot de Malahide.]
Samuel Whyte. Crayons. Engraved in stipple by H. Brocas as frontispiece to Whyte's "Poems."
Rev. Richard Wolfe, as a young man. Oil picture. [George Wolfe, Forenaughts, Co. Kildare.]
Chief Baron Yelverton, Oil picture.
A Lady. Crayons. [Newbridge House, Donabate.] Erroneously called "Vere Chaloner, Mother of Archbishop Cobbe."
A Lady. Crayons. Signed and dated 1770. [National Gallery of Ireland.]
A Lady, Crayons; oval, 12 ½ by 10 ¾ inches. [F. T. Sabin, Bond Street, London.]
A Lady. Crayons. Signed and dated 1773. [Sir Edward F. Coates, Queen Anne's Lodge, London.]
An old Lady. Crayons. Signed and dated 1770. [Sir Edward F. Coates, Queen Anne's Lodge, London.]
A Lady. In black and white chalks. [Lord Talbot de Malahide.]
A Gentleman. In black and white chalks. [Lord Talbot de Malahide.]
A Gentleman. Crayons. H. D. Hamilton delint., 1772. [British Museum.]
Two Young Girls at a Spinet. Crayons, large size. Formerly at Bellvue, Co. Wicklow.
A Lady. Oil picture; oval, 28 by 23 inches. Christie's, 9th December, 1911.
Cupid and Psyche. Oil picture. Ex. Dublin, 1800.
Cupid and Psyche. Oil picture. Unfinished.
Head of Tisiphone. Oil picture. Ex. Dublin, 1804.
Head of Medusa. Oil picture. Ex. Dublin, 1804.
NOTES:
* This account of H. D. Hamilton appeared in the Walpole Society's second annual volume, 1913.
† Gustavus Hamilton (q.v.) (b. 1739, d. 1775), not related to H. D. Hamilton, was a fashionable miniature painter in Dublin about the same period.
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