Artwork

George Clavering Cowper, 3rd Earl Cowper

George Clavering Cowper, 3rd Earl Cowper, by Hugh Douglas Hamilton, 1785
George Clavering Cowper, 3rd Earl Cowper, by Hugh Douglas Hamilton, 1785

George Clavering Cowper, 3rd Earl Cowper is a drawing by the Romanticist artist Hugh Douglas Hamilton. It dates from 1785 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this work

If you like this quiet, detailed style, look up *ireland, 18th century* for more portraits like it.

A man in a blue coat and white sash stands beside a hunting dog. The dog wears a bright red collar and looks up at him.

This portrait was made in Florence, where the man lived. He was part of a knightly hunting order, and the painting likely celebrates that honor. The dog’s red collar matches the sash—small details that tie the scene together.

If you like this quiet, detailed style, look up *ireland, 18th century* for more portraits like it.

Overview

This pastel portrait depicts George Clavering Cowper, 3rd Earl Cowper, in a serene outdoor setting with his hunting dog.

Subject & Meaning

The earl, wearing the insignia of the Order of St. Hubertus, is shown with his dog, which has a metal collar bearing his name. The portrait likely commemorates his induction into the knightly order in 1785.

Technique & Style

The portrait is characterized by its quiet, detailed style, with attention to small elements like the dog's collar and the earl's sash, which are rendered in vivid colors.

History & Provenance

The portrait was created in Florence, where Cowper resided, by a prominent Irish portraitist known for capturing Grand Tour travelers.

Artist & collection

Portrait of Hugh Douglas Hamilton

Artist

Hugh Douglas Hamilton

Hugh Douglas Hamilton RHA (c. 1739 – 10 February 1808) was an Irish painter who specialised in portrait painting. He spent considerable periods in London and Rome before returning to Dublin in the early 1790s. Until the…

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: Cleveland Museum of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.