This important drawing of Mary Hamilton is arguably the most beautiful female portrait of its type remaining in this country. It is by Sir Thomas Lawrence (1769-1830), recognised as one of the nation's greatest artists. Lawrence was great friends with William Hamilton (1751-1801), a history and portrait painter and Royal Academician. They used to draw together in the evenings from antique casts while William's wife Mary read to them 'either poetry, history, or works of the imagina...
{}