Mrs Mary F Hamilton (British fl.1807-1849); “Swiss Girl” Portrait Miniature

Fine Art : Portrait Miniatures

 

Mrs Mary F Hamilton (British fl.1807-1849); “Swiss Girl”: a portrait miniature; mineral pigments on marble; exhibited at the Royal Academy no.683 in 1843 (inscription and cuttings verso); mounted in its almost certainly original gilt composition frame; 18 x 14cm (7 x 5 1/2ins) sight (visible painting) size (frame size: 30.5 x 27cm (12 x 10 5/8ins))

There is a panel on the reverse of the frame which reveals an inscribed paper, possibly the exhibition label, which reads” 2 Miniatures / A Portrait of A Swiss Girl Painted on Marble – / by Mrs Hamilton / Artist / 16 Duke Street / Westminster. Below this are three cuttings from the London Times newspaper of Monday May 22, 1843, The first of these reads:

“The portraits on marble by Mrs Hamilton, painted in mineral colours, are very surprising pictures, combining some of the best effects, and having a power yet delicacy seldom united. The drawing in these portraits is particularly good”

And the second:

“683. Portrait of a Swiss Girl, painted on marble – Mrs Hamilton. A picture of the most distinguished beauty.”

CONDITION: The portrait is in fine condition. The frame is a little age worn, the moulding has one or two minor losses, but nothing to detract significantly from its appeal.

BIOGRAPHY: Foskett suggests that she was probably the sister-in-law- of Miss Maria Hamilton, another miniaturist, as she was known to have exhibited on occasion from the same address at 82, Strand, and therefore the wife of William Hamilton R.A., also a portrait and miniature painter. She may also be identical to another miniaturist recorded by Foskett as “M. Hamilton”. Her first known exhibit is of a miniature after Titian at the B.I. In 1807. She exhibited 24 miniatures on 16 occasions at the R.A. between 1825 and 1849.

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Item ID: RL-0652