Portrait of the Rt Hon. David La Touche of Marlay (1729-1817)

The painting portrays David La Touche, an Irish politician and landowner, in later life. His serious expression and direct gaze engage the viewer, while his attire (black jacket, white shirt) and hairstyle place him in the late 18th or early 19th century.

Hamilton employed chiaroscuro to achieve depth and dimension, set against a dark background that accentuates the subject. Notably, this work marks a departure from Hamilton's primary medium of pastel, which he largely transitioned away from by the mid-1770s.

Created in 1800, the portrait is now held in the National Gallery of Ireland's collection. Hamilton, who had previously worked in London and Rome, was based in Dublin by the early 1790s, where he maintained a portrait practice.

The painting reflects Hamilton's adaptation to oil paint, a medium he used more frequently after the mid-1770s. The subject's depiction also provides insight into the attire and demeanor of Ireland's political and landed elite during the late 18th to early 19th centuries.

While specific legacy details of this portrait are not highlighted, it contributes to the historical record of David La Touche and showcases Hamilton's oeuvre in oil, beyond his more commonly known pastel works.