Brief Biography-Hugh Douglas Hamilton was born in Dublin, Ireland, circa 1739. He studied at the Dublin Society of Artists in 1750. Hamilton excelled in crayon painting. In 1764 he went to London for financial reasons and, through the patronage of the young Earl of Carlisle, became a success, painting notable sitters. At the London Free Society of Artists, Hamilton exhibited and charged nine guineas per portrait, most of which were oval-shaped in crayons. After accumulating enough money, he set out for Italy with his daughter; his wife was considered deceased. Gentlemen on their Grand Tours were quick to avail of his services which led to more success using oils in Italy. In 1791, he returned to Dublin and focused mainly on whole-length portraits and historical works. Hamilton retired in 1804 for health reasons and studied chemistry in his last four years.
His daughter was also a painter and put touches on his unfinished works. His most notable painting is Canova and Tresham, Studying Canova’s Cupid and Psyche.