Historical Subject with Men and a Boy Near a Ship (recto); Anatomical Study of a Foot (verso)

William Hamilton

1770–80 · Recto: pen and black ink, brush and brown wash and watercolor, over graphite Verso: pen and black ink, brush and wash, over 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 of men recognizing the identity of a captive boy next to a ship likely derives from a literary or historical source. On the verso, the artist copied a drawing of a flayed foot from an anatomy book.

Artist

William Hamilton

Date

1770–80

Medium

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

Department

Drawings and Prints

Credit line

The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, The Elisha Whittelsey Fund, 2015