William Hamilton

William Hamilton was an artist active during a documented period between 1761 and 1771. His output, as represented in major museum collections, consists primarily of works on paper, encompassing thirteen drawings, one print, and a single painting.

The subjects documented demonstrate a focus on dramatic, literary, and theatrical themes. Key compositions represented in collections include the print Toneelspeelster Sarah Siddons in de rol van Euphrasia, suggesting an engagement with contemporary stage performance. Other works reveal an interest in narrative tension and historical subjects, such as the drawings A man in chains converses with a woman and A king with his horse, alarmed by ghostly women. Mythological themes are also present, evidenced by Amymone (?) with a lecherous satyr and the character study A figure in armor.

William Hamilton’s surviving work is held internationally in prominent institutions, including the Rijksmuseum, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the Art Institute of Chicago. The fifteen known examples provide crucial insight into the artist's production during his decade of activity. Today, access to William Hamilton prints and drawings is expanding; many of the documented works are available as high-quality prints sourced from museum archives and public domain resources.