Sir William Hamilton was a leading European figure of his time. Though the romance between his wife Lady Emma Hamilton and Horatio Nelson tends to eclipse Sir William’s own activities, his work as a scientist and a classicist made major contributions to the study of Pompei, Herculaneum, and Mt Vesuvius.

As an expert in ancient art, Hamilton also built up an invaluable collection of ancient Greek vases, subsequently sold to the British Museum in London in 1772. Before the pieces were shipped off to England, Hamilton commissioned Pierre-François Hugues d'Hancarville, an adventurous connoisseur and art dealer, to document the vases in words and images. The resulting catalog, published in four volumes and known as Les Antiquités d'Hancarville, represents a neoclassical masterpiece. Never before had ancient vases been represented with such meticulous detail and sublime beauty.

Sir William Hamilton was the British ambassador to Naples during the city’s golden age, from 1764 to 1800. An avid antiquarian, Hamilton assembled one of the world’s finest collections of Greek and Roman antiquities. The core of his collection was bought en bloc from the Porcinari family, after an introduction by Hugues d’Hancarville, an amateur art dealer. Hamilton added several more choice items before selling the entire collection to the British Museum in 1772 for £8400, where it became one of main collections in the department of Greek and Roman antiquities. However, before the collection was shipped to England, Hamilton arranged for Hugues d’Hancarville to oversee the cataloguing and drawing of every item. The published work appeared in 1766-1767 and is a triumphant example of graphic art of the highest order: the present image is one of the results.
In addition to his duties as ambassador, Hamilton was also renowned as a knowledgeable guide and congenial host to the visiting English ‘Grand Tourists’. With infectious enthusiasm he would extol the wonders of Naples and the beauties of arts of the ancient world, inspiring in many of his aristocratic visitors a genuine love of the antique. This new-found enthusiasm, fuelled by images such as the present engraving, found its expression in the new style of neo-classicism and in the collections of antiquities which found their way to many of the stately homes of England.

THE PICTURALIST IMAGE GALLERY

The Picturalist offers you first quality, customized artwork that ships in just 4 to 7 days. This lightning speed service enables you to display artist original wall art tailored for your design project, within a week of ordering. It guarantees you can choose your artwork in the size you want, in the medium you prefer and in the frame finish you desire, to match your project décor.

YOUR FRAMING OPTIONS

FOR PRINTS ON ARCHIVAL PAPER

All The Picturalist prints are produced to the highest industry standards by a fine art printer, using fully archival Epson inkjet pigments on Hahnemuhle, Canson and Legion (cotton rag) paper. Also known as giclee, this printing method exceeds digital C-prints or screen printing, producing distinct color accuracy and unparalleled detail. We only use acid-free archival mats and materials, natural wood frames and standard glass.

We also offer optional unbreakable, lightweight acrylic glass. We like to recommend it because it’s clearer, far more impact resistant and protects your artwork against 98% of UV rays. Framing-grade acrylic glass may be a bit more expensive than standard glass, but it has now become the new standard in framing.

OPTIONS WITHOUT A MAT

You can frame the artwork you choose without a mat on 2 variations:

1. Without mat and without border or "full bleed", meaning the frame will slightly overlap the artwork by a 1/4 inch.

2. With a white border all around, typically a 2 inch wide white border. A great look to highlight your print.

OPTIONS WITH A MAT

1. With an off-white textured mat: Depending on the artwork you choose, consider using the "off-white" mat for antique prints. Makes a warmer transition for antique prints set in traditional decors.

2. With a thick white mat: For a more contemporary and richer look

3. With a black mat: For a dramatic contrast. Offered only on specific prints

All our framed artwork comes ready with a wire to hang on your wall.

SHIPPING WITH ART-SECURED PACKAGING

At The Picturalist, we check each artwork before it leaves the premises. All our packages are sent in specially designed boxes to guarantee picture perfect deliveries. We ship to your drop-ship location, home or office, on weekdays and Saturdays, anywhere in the United States and Canada within 4 to 10 business days.

MEASURE EQUIVALENCE

Consult our overall and print dimensions chart here.