1 793- Scottljlj artists, — G Hamilton. 3 



gures, Mr Hamilton lias given mor^ of dignity than 

 ease ; and the ibservei in va.n looks for that win- 

 ning softntfo, that attractive milJnefj, wUicii is the 

 efsence of the irresistible power of female charms *. 

 In his historical compositions, some of which 

 have come to Britain, but which to those who have 

 not made the tour of Europe, must be known 

 chiefly by the prints doae from them, Mr Hamilton 

 plainly discovers that he has studied the chaste mo- 

 dels of antiquity that are to be found so easily in 

 Italy, with more attention than the living figures 

 around him. This has given to his paintings of an- 

 cient histories, a propriety with regard to costume 

 which distinguifhes them from most modern compo- 

 sitions, and a dignity of manner that is seldom at- 

 tained by those who make living characters the 

 principal object of their studies : he has at the 

 same time avoided that marble like stiflPnefs which 

 so powerfully characterises the otherwise fine paint- 

 ings of Nicholas Poufoin. 



One of his greatest works is his Homer, consis- 

 ting of a series of pictures representing scenes taken 

 from the lUiad. These have been dispersed into 

 various parts of Europe, and can now only be seen 

 in one continued series in the excellent engravings 

 of them by Cunego, made under the eye of Mr 

 Hamilton himself. Several of these paintings came 



* There is another zmfimjljecl portrait of the same duchefs by him, 

 in which the duke thought the likenefs so striking that he took it 

 from the painter and never would allow it to be finiflied, lest the re- 

 semblar.ce (hould have been lost. I do not suppose anyjprint has ever 

 been mud; from it ; nor did I ever sec this painting. 



