Gustavus Hamilton (painter) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gustavus Hamilton
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| Born | circa 1739 Ireland
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| Died | 16 December 1775 (aged 35–36) Dublin
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Gustavus Hamilton (born around 1739 – died December 16, 1775) was a talented Irish artist. He was known for painting tiny, detailed portraits called miniatures. These small artworks were often worn as jewelry.
Who Was Gustavus Hamilton?
Gustavus Hamilton was born in Ireland around 1739. His father was also named Gustavus Hamilton, a church leader in County Meath. His mother was Jane Cathcart. Gustavus was one of their younger children. His family believed they were related to the Hamiltons from Priestfield in Scotland.
Hamilton lived in Dublin, Ireland, for most of his life. He had homes and studios on Parliament Street, Dame Street, and Cork Hill. He passed away at his home on Cork Hill on December 16, 1775, when he was about 36 years old. He was buried at St Werburgh's Church in Dublin. Later, a special plaque was put up there to remember him.
His Artistic Journey
Gustavus Hamilton learned to paint from some of the best artists in Dublin. One of his teachers was Robert West, who ran an art school on George's Lane. Hamilton won awards for his drawing skills in 1755 and 1756.
He also learned from Samuel Dixon on Capel Street. There, Hamilton helped color special prints of birds and flowers. He worked alongside other miniature painters like James Reily and Daniel O'Keefe.
- Miniature Painting: Hamilton and Reily painted miniatures in the 1750s and 1760s. They used watercolors on thin pieces of ivory. Their style was similar to that of Nathaniel Hone.
- Developing the Art: Hamilton was an important link between earlier miniature artists and those who came later. He helped develop the way miniatures were painted on ivory using watercolors.
Hamilton's Art Style
You can often spot Hamilton's paintings by his signature. He would sign his work with his initials, "ham." with a date, or "Gus. Hamilton." Sometimes he added a date, sometimes not.
His miniatures are quite small, often meant to be worn as jewelry. One famous example of his work is a portrait of Reverend Joshua Nunn. This painting is kept at the National Gallery of Ireland. His work sometimes had a bluish tint in the faces he painted.
Hamilton showed his miniature paintings at art exhibitions in Dublin. He displayed his work at the Society of Artists in Ireland between 1765 and 1773.
