Artwork

Lady Anne Hamilton (1766–1846)

Lady Anne Hamilton (1766–1846), by James Lonsdale, oil, 1815
Lady Anne Hamilton (1766–1846), by James Lonsdale, oil, 1815

Lady Anne Hamilton (1766–1846) is an oil painting by the British Romanticist artist James Lonsdale. It dates from 1815 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.

About this work

The painting features a woman seated on a red and gold chair, wearing a black dress with a white and gold shawl draped over her shoulders.

The painting features a woman seated on a red and gold chair, wearing a black dress with a white and gold shawl draped over her shoulders. She has a black hat adorned with a white feather and gold jewelry. The background is a warm, reddish-brown color.

The woman's attire and the style of the painting suggest a formal portrait from the early 19th century. The use of rich colors and textures adds depth to the image.

This painting is reminiscent of works by artists who specialized in portraiture during the same period. You might also want to explore more works by James Lonsdale.

Overview

This oil painting, created in 1815 by James Lonsdale, is a portrait of Lady Anne Hamilton (1766–1846). It is housed in the Victoria and Albert Museum as part of the British Romanticism collection.

Subject & Meaning

The subject, Lady Anne Hamilton, is depicted in formal attire, conveying her social status. Her seated pose on an ornate chair, adorned with a black dress, white and gold shawl, black hat with a white feather, and gold jewelry, emphasizes dignity and refinement.

Technique & Style

Lonsdale's technique employs rich, deep colors (notably the reddish-brown background) and textured elements (e.g., the chair, shawl) to add depth. The overall style aligns with early 19th-century formal portraiture, characteristic of British Romanticism.

History & Provenance

Painted in 1815 by James Lonsdale, a pupil of George Romney and co-founder of the Society of British Artists, the portrait is now part of the Victoria and Albert Museum's collection.

Context

As a work by a prolific portrait painter who exhibited at the Royal Academy, this piece reflects the artistic tastes of the British elite during the early 19th century.

Legacy

While not singularly renowned, the painting represents Lonsdale's contribution to the broader landscape of British Romantic portraiture, offering insight into the era's aesthetic and social norms.

Artist & collection

Portrait of James Lonsdale

Artist

James Lonsdale

James Lonsdale (16 May 1777, Lancaster – 17 January 1839, London) was a fashionable and prolific English portrait painter who exhibited some 138 works at the Royal Academy between 1802 and 1838, and was one of the founders of the Society…