William Hamilton (painter) facts for kids

William Hamilton, painted by Thomas Lawrence in 1788.

William Hamilton (born 1751, died 1801) was a famous English painter. He was also an illustrator, meaning he drew pictures for books and other publications. He became a member of the Royal Academy, a special group for artists.

About William Hamilton

William Hamilton was born in a part of London called Chelsea. When he was younger, he traveled to Italy. In Italy, he worked with another artist named Antonio Zucchi. He first learned to draw buildings and plans. But soon, he found his passion in painting people from plays. He also painted scenes that looked like they were from a theater stage. William Hamilton joined the Royal Academy in 1784. This was a big honor for artists. He became a full member in 1789.

What William Hamilton Painted

Hamilton became very well known for his paintings. Many of his works showed scenes from the famous plays of William Shakespeare. He also created many illustrations for poems. These pictures helped people imagine the stories in the poems. Important people hired him to create art. He made paintings for John Boydell's Shakespeare Gallery. He also worked on Thomas Macklin's Bible and Robert Bowyer's English History. These works were very popular. Many of his paintings were made into prints. This meant more people could see and own copies of his art. An artist named Francesco Bartolozzi helped engrave many of Hamilton's best works.

Hamilton also painted events that were happening in his time. For example, he painted the execution of Marie Antoinette. He painted it in a grand, dramatic style, like a big historical play. He also painted battle scenes. Some of these included The destruction of the Spanish battery ships before Gibraltar in the night of the 13th of Sept. last (1783). Another battle painting was Defence of the Breach at Jean d'Acre by Sir Sidney Smith (1800). Hamilton's paintings often showed a lot of emotion. His style was similar to the artist Angelica Kauffman. Sometimes, he used dramatic shapes and figures in his art. This was a bit like the artist Fuseli.

Gallery

• 

  John Philip Kemble as Richard III, around 1787

• 

  The carousing of Sir Toby Belch and Sir Anthony Aguecheek, 1792

• 

  Isabella appealing to Angelo, 1793

• 

  Marie Antoinette being taken to her execution, 1794 (Musée de la Révolution française)

• 

  The Wolves Descending from the Alps, 1794

• 

  Olivia's proposal, around 1796

• 

  Prospero and Ariel, 1797

• 

  A Scene from Twelfth Night, around 1797

• 

  The Duke of York discovering his son Aumerle's treachery, late 1790s