WILLIAM HAMILTON, R.A. (LONDON 1751-1801)

Born in Chelsea, the versatile William Hamilton was sent to Italy as a young man by the architect Robert Adam; on his return he studied at the Royal Academy Schools, and began to exhibit at the Royal Academy in 1774. Proficient in both oil and watercolour, he made a speciality of scenes from history and literature, and portraits of actors and actresses. The house depicted here was completed for Sir Charles Hotham in the 1770s; Sir Charles had a close interest in the theatre which is probably how he came across Hamilton.