Elizabeth Duchess of Hamilton
Elizabeth Duchess of Hamilton
A reverse glass mezzotint portrait of Elizabeth Duchess of Hamilton after Gavin Hamilton, engraved by Richard Houston and printed and sold by Robert Sayer at the Golden Buck opposite Fetter Lane, Fleet Street.
This magnificent portrait was commissioned by James, 6th Duke of Hamilton, to celebrate his marriage to Elizabeth Gunning. Born in Ireland, Elizabeth was a celebrity beauty who caused a sensation when she and her equally attractive sister were introduced into high society. Though the sisters had neither dowries nor rank, their physical attractiveness secured them excellent marriages. Elizabeth married the Duke of Hamilton on St Valentine's Day, 1752, only weeks after meeting him at a masquerade. The artist Gavin Hamilton, a distant relative of the Duke, produced an extremely sophisticated image that was unlike the more informal portraits of the time.
The original portrait is on display at the Scottish National Portrait Gallery.
Richard Houston was one of a celebrated group of Irish print-makers specialising in mezzotint. He worked predominantly for the Bowles family and absconded for unpaid debts in 1762.
