Sir William Hamilton
George Romney·1783-1784
Historical Context
The sitter in this Romney portrait represents the wealthy English gentry and professional classes whose portrait commissions sustained his extensive studio practice through the 1780s and 1790s. Romney's ability to communicate the specific social identity of each sitter — their rank, profession, and personal character — through the careful management of pose, costume, and expression within the standard portrait conventions of the period was the practical achievement underlying his theoretical reputation for naturalness and warmth. Each portrait served simultaneously as social document and personal monument, the combination of documentary and idealizing functions that defined portraiture's social role in Georgian England.
Technical Analysis
Romney captures Hamilton's scholarly, aristocratic character with his trademark directness and elegant economy. The palette is restrained, with warm flesh tones modeled against a dark background. The composition is simple and focused, allowing the sitter's intelligent, refined expression to dominate.
Provenance
Noted as given by the sitter in 1789 to his nephew, the Hon. Charles Francis Greville [1749-1809];[1] (sale, Christie, Manson & Woods, London, 31 March 1810, no. 41); probably bought on behalf of the Hon. Robert Fulke Greville [1751-1824],[2] brother of Charles Francis Greville; bequest to his wife, Louisa, Countess of Mansfield [d. 1843]; by inheritance to their daughter, Lady Louisa Greville [d. 1883], wife of the Reverend the Hon. Daniel Hatton [1795-1866], rector of Great Weldon and chaplain to the queen; by descent to Nigel Hatton [1859-1937]. (Asher Wertheimer, London), by 1917;[3] sold 1917 to (M. Knoedler & Co., London and New York); purchased 1918 by Andrew W. Mellon, Pittsburgh and Washington, D.C.; gift by 1937 to his daughter, Ailsa Mellon Bruce [1901-1969), New York; bequest 1970 to NGA. [1] According to a Knoedler prospectus dated 26 April 1913 given to Andrew Mellon, Sir William gave the portrait to his nephew on 8 May 1789. [2] Christie's marked copy of the catalogue records no. 41 as bought by "Col. Greville." Robert Fulke's son, also named Robert Fulke, was a captain; possibly he acted as buyer for his father, and was recorded as "Col." [3] M. Knoedler & Co. records, recorded by The Provenance Index, J. Paul Getty Trust, Los Angeles, California.
_MET_DP169401.jpg&width=600)
