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A Cognocenti Contemplating ye Beauties of ye Antique

February 11, 1801
Not on view
Sir William Hamilton formed a collection of ancient art while serving as British ambassador to Naples and Gillray shows him examining a bust of Lais, a Greek courtesan whose face resembles Emma, Hamilton's wife. Much younger than her husband, she had first become his mistress and entertained guests by performing "Attitudes" that imitated antique sculptures–evoked here by a headless Bacchante holding grapes. The small weeping Cupid refers to Lady Hamilton's famous love affair with Admiral Horatio Nelson which began in Naples around 1799. Hamilton remained on cordial terms with both his wife and Nelson and, when this print appeared, all three had recently traveled back to London together. Gillray comments on the notorious relationship through pictures on the back wall that are titled "Cleopatra," "Mark Anthony" and "Claudius," while the love affair that began in Naples is evoked by a smoking Mount Etna.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: A Cognocenti Contemplating ye Beauties of ye Antique
  • Artist: James Gillray (British, London 1756–1815 London)
  • Publisher: Hannah Humphrey (British, ca. 1745–1819)
  • Subject: Sir William Hamilton (British, London or Remenham 1731–1803 London)
  • Subject: Lady Emma Hamilton (British, Ness, Cheshire bap. 1765–1815 Calais)
  • Subject: Horatio Nelson, Viscount Nelson (British, Burnham Thorpe 1758–1805 at sea)
  • Date: February 11, 1801
  • Medium: Hand-colored etching
  • Dimensions: Sheet: 13 11/16 × 10 1/16 in. (34.8 × 25.5 cm)
  • Classification: Prints
  • Credit Line: Gift of Jill Spalding, 2022
  • Object Number: 2022.309.2
  • Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints

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