Artwork
Portrait of Gustavus Hamilton, 2nd Viscount Boyne
Portrait of Gustavus Hamilton, 2nd Viscount Boyne is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist William Hogarth. It dates from 1740 and is held in the collection of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1740, this oil portrait by William Hogarth presents Gustavus Hamilton, the second Viscount Boyne. The composition places the aristocrat before a stone wall under a muted sky, his figure rendered with careful attention to dress and posture. The work reflects the decorative tendencies of the Rococo period while maintaining a restrained, formal tone appropriate to its noble subject.
Subject & Meaning
The sitter, Gustavus Hamilton, is shown standing upright, his right hand lightly touching the wall and his left hand holding a black hat and a walking cane.
The sitter, Gustavus Hamilton, is shown standing upright, his right hand lightly touching the wall and his left hand holding a black hat and a walking cane. His attire—a brown coat with prominent buttons, a blue waistcoat embroidered in gold, and white stockings—signals his rank and the fashion of mid‑eighteenth‑century British aristocracy. The modest background underscores his personal presence rather than any narrative scene.
Technique & Style
Hogarth employs oil pigments to achieve a smooth surface and subtle modeling of flesh and fabric. Light falls across the figure, creating modest contrasts that define the folds of the coat and the texture of the stone wall. While the overall aesthetic aligns with Rococo’s lighter palette and decorative details, the portrait retains Hogarth’s characteristic clarity of form and restrained use of chiaroscuro.
History & Provenance
The painting was executed during a prolific period in Hogarth’s career when he balanced portrait commissions with his well‑known satirical series. Though specific ownership records are limited, the work has remained associated with the Hamilton family lineage and has been referenced in catalogues of British portraiture from the eighteenth century.
Artist & collection
Artist
William Hogarth (; 10 November 1697 – 26 October 1764) was an English painter, engraver, satirist, cartoonist and writer.
