William Hamilton

William Hamilton was born in Chelsea in 1751 and became a painter of historical scenes and portraits and also a successful book illustrator. He travelled with Antonio Zucchi to Italy and studied there for several years, where he may also have made the contacts which enabled him to collaborate with Francesco Bartolozzi in London in later years. Bartolozzi engraved a number of Hamilton's best known works. Hamilton became a member of the Royal Academy in 1789 and died in London in 1801.