Leo Martínez
Lady Hamilton as Nature is a painting by George Romney, dated to around 1782. The painting depicts Emma Hart (1765–1815), a woman known for her beauty and charm, who rose from humble origins to international fame. The portrait was commissioned by Charles Greville, with whom Hart had a romantic relationship, and it was the first of over twenty portraits Romney painted of Hart. The painting is significant as it showcases Romney's interest in history painting and his desire to elevate his portraits through classicizing flavours in costume, pose, and composition.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Artist | George Romney |
| Date | 1782 |
| Subject | Emma Hart (Lady Hamilton) |
| Medium | Watercolor, over graphite, on board |
| Dimensions | 24.8 × 19.6 cm (9 13/16 × 7 3/4 in) |
| Collection | The Leonora Hall Gurley Memorial Collection, The Art Institute of Chicago |
| Historical Context | Hart was a woman of great beauty and charm who rose from humble origins to international fame. She was the mistress of Charles Greville, who commissioned the portrait, and later married his uncle, Sir William Hamilton, the British ambassador to Naples. She entertained company with her "attitudes," or Romantic aesthetic posturing achieved with shawls and classical draperies. She had a notorious romantic liaison with Lord Horatio Nelson until his death at the Battle of Trafalgar. |
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What You'll Learn
- Lady Hamilton as Nature, painted by George Romney in 1782
- Emma Hart, the subject of the painting, rose from humble origins to international fame
- Hart was the mistress of Charles Greville, who commissioned the painting
- Hart entertained company with her attitudes – Romantic aesthetic posturing with shawls and drapery
- Hart was married to Sir William Hamilton, British ambassador to Naples
Lady Hamilton as Nature, painted by George Romney in 1782
The painting is one of over twenty portraits Romney created of Emma, many portraying her as characters from history, mythology, and literature. Romney was captivated by Emma's beauty, which combined ancient Greek sculpture features with Rubens-esque voluptuousness. Her talent for holding poses and expressions, as well as her vivacious and endearing personality, further inspired Romney.
The 1780s was a period when artists aspired to create grand historical paintings, and even portrait painters sought to infuse their works with classicizing elements. Romney, influenced by this trend, initially depicted Emma in modern dress as Nature and then reimagined her as the mythological sorceress Circe (c. 1782). He continued to portray her as Medea, a bacchante, Thetis, and other antique characters, catering to the tastes of Emma's patrons and their social circles.
The relationship between Emma and Romney resulted in numerous fancy portraits and literary subjects with dramatic heroines. Over sixty paintings were inspired by or featured Emma, indicating the significant role she played in Romney's creative life. The painting "Lady Hamilton as Nature" is a testament to their collaboration and a glimpse into the Romantic aesthetic of the late 18th century.
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Emma Hart, the subject of the painting, rose from humble origins to international fame
Lady Hamilton as 'Nature' is a 1782 painting by George Romney. The subject of the painting, Emma Hart (1765–1815), rose from humble origins to international fame.
Born as Emma Hart, the daughter of a blacksmith, she escaped to London in her early teens, where she worked as an actress' maid in the theatre district of Drury Lane. She was also rumoured to have worked as a 'living illustration' at the 'Temple of Health' in Pall Mall. Emma Hart was the mistress of Charles Greville, who commissioned the painting and educated her in music and literature. Greville's uncle, Sir William Hamilton, the British ambassador to Naples, brought her to Italy, where they were married.
Emma Hart entertained company with her "attitudes", a kind of Romantic aesthetic posturing achieved with the aid of shawls and classical draperies. German writer and philosopher Johann Wolfgang Goethe described a visit to Hamilton's Villa Sessa in Naples in 1787, where he was captivated by Emma's beauty and charisma. He wrote that:
> " [Hamilton has] found the acme of these delights in the person of an English girl ... with a beautiful face and a perfect figure ... she lets down her hair and, with a few shawls, gives so much variety to her poses that the spectator can hardly believe his eyes."
Emma Hart attracted the attention of Lord Horatio Nelson, with whom she had a notorious romantic liaison until his death at the Battle of Trafalgar. She inherited money from both Hamilton and Nelson, but her extravagance led her into debt, and she died in poverty.
The painting 'Lady Hamilton as Nature' was the first of more than twenty portraits that Romney painted of his "divine lady", many in the guise of characters from history, mythology, and literature.
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Hart was the mistress of Charles Greville, who commissioned the painting
Emma Hart, also known as Lady Hamilton, was a woman of great beauty and charm who rose from humble origins to international fame. Born in 1765, she began her life as the daughter of a blacksmith and later worked as an actresses' maid in London's theatre district. She soon changed her name to Emma Hart and became the mistress of Charles Greville, who would commission the first of many portraits of her by George Romney. Romney's portrait, titled "Lady Hamilton as 'Nature'", was completed in 1782.
Greville, recognising her beauty and potential, educated Hart in music and literature. He also facilitated her marriage to his uncle, Sir William Hamilton, the British ambassador to Naples. Hart's confidence and charisma, in addition to her aesthetic posturing with shawls and classical draperies, captivated many men, including Lord Horatio Nelson, with whom she had a notorious romantic liaison.
Despite her eventual inheritance from both Hamilton and Nelson, Hart's extravagance led her into debt, and she died in poverty in 1815. Nonetheless, her life is a testament to her ambition and determination to transcend her humble beginnings.
The painting "Lady Hamilton as 'Nature'" was the first of over twenty portraits that Romney painted of Hart, often depicting her as characters from history, mythology, and literature. Romney's portraits of Hart, including "Lady Hamilton as 'Nature'", contributed to her fame and allure, solidifying her place in the artistic canon of the late 18th and early 19th centuries.
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Hart entertained company with her attitudes – Romantic aesthetic posturing with shawls and drapery
Emma Hart, also known as Lady Hamilton, was a woman of great beauty and charm who rose from humble origins to international fame. She was the mistress of Charles Greville, who commissioned a portrait of her as "Nature" by George Romney in 1782. Greville's uncle, Sir William Hamilton, the British ambassador to Naples, brought her to Italy, where they were married.
Lady Hamilton was known for her "attitudes" – a kind of Romantic aesthetic posturing achieved with the aid of shawls and classical draperies. This involved arranging her body in expressive poses, often depicting characters from history, mythology, and literature. One observer, the German writer and philosopher Johann Wolfgang Goethe, described her performances in Naples in 1787:
> [Hamilton has] found the acme of these delights in the person of an English girl ... with a beautiful face and a perfect figure ... she lets down her hair and, with a few shawls, gives so much variety to her poses that the spectator can hardly believe his eyes.
Romney's portrait of Lady Hamilton as "Nature" was the first of more than twenty paintings he created of his “divine lady”. Many of these paintings depicted her in the guise of historical, mythological, or literary characters, such as the mythological sorceress Circe, Medea, a bacchante, Thetis, and Joan of Arc. Romney's fervent output included sketches, broad brush strokes, and unresolved areas, revealing the speed at which he executed many of his portraits of Emma.
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Hart was married to Sir William Hamilton, British ambassador to Naples
Lady Hamilton, also known as Emma Hart, was married to Sir William Hamilton, the British ambassador to Naples. Hart was a woman of great beauty and charm, who rose from humble origins to international fame. She was the mistress of Charles Greville, who educated her in music and literature. Greville's uncle, Sir William Hamilton, brought her to Italy, where they were married.
Sir William Hamilton was much older than his wife, with a 35-year age gap between them. Despite this, Hart informed Greville that she loved her future husband tenderly. The marriage took place in London in 1791.
Hart became known for her "attitudes", a kind of Romantic aesthetic posturing achieved with the aid of shawls and classical draperies. She attracted the attention of Lord Horatio Nelson, with whom she had a notorious romantic liaison until his death at the Battle of Trafalgar.
Lady Hamilton was the subject of many paintings, including over twenty portraits by George Romney, the first of which was "Lady Hamilton as 'Nature'" in 1782. Romney's other paintings of her include depictions of mythological and historical characters, such as the sorceress Circe, Medea, a bacchante, Thetis, and Joan of Arc. She was also painted by other notable artists such as Reynolds, Thomas Lawrence, Gavin Hamilton, Angelica Kauffmann, and Vigée le Brun, often playing a role rather than being depicted as herself.
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Frequently asked questions
George Romney painted Lady Hamilton as Nature.
Emma Hart, also known as Lady Hamilton, was a woman of great beauty and charm who rose from humble origins to international fame.
Charles Greville commissioned the portrait of his mistress, Emma Hart.
Greville's uncle, Sir William Hamilton, British ambassador to Naples.
The painting was made in 1782.
