Envy from Ovid's "House of Envy" (Book II, lines 760-796) (recto); A naked woman (verso)

William Hamilton

1770–80 · Recto: pen and black ink, brush and brown wash and watercolor, over graphite Verso: pen and brown ink and graphite · Drawings and Prints

Hamilton belonged to a generation determined to expand the scope of the arts in Britain. He traveled to Rome as a teenager to study with Antonio Zucchi, returned to England to make decorative paintings for Robert Adam, then entered the Royal Academy Schools in 1769. From that point forward he focused on historical and literary subjects, together with portaits. This early drawing of a naked hag with snakes in her hair represents Envy as described by Ovid.

Artist

William Hamilton

Date

1770–80

Medium

Recto: pen and black ink, brush and brown wash and watercolor, over graphite Verso: pen and brown ink and graphite

Department

Drawings and Prints

Credit line

The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, The Elisha Whittelsey Fund, 2015