William Hilton
Encyclopedia
William Hilton was an English portrait and history painter.
, the son of a portrait-painter; he may be known as "William Hilton the Younger". Although he is best known today for simple portraits of the poets John Keats
and John Clare
, he was very successful in his lifetime with huge history painting
s in the "Grand Manner", which have so far not benefited at all from the revival of interest in 19th century British Academic art
, and are not likely to be on display in the museums that own them.
In 1800, he was apprenticed with the engraver John Raphael Smith
, and around the same time enrolled at the Royal Academy
school. Hilton first exhibited there in 1803, sending a Group of Banditti and he soon established a reputation for choice of subject, and qualities of design and colour superior to the great mass of his contemporaries. He made a tour in Italy with Thomas Phillips
, the portrait-painter.
In 1813, having exhibited "Miranda and Ferdinand with the Logs of Wood," he was elected as an associate of the Academy, and in 1820 as a full academician; his diploma-picture representing Ganymede
. In 1823, he produced his "Christ crowned with Thorns," a large and important work, subsequently bought as the first purchase of the Chantrey Fund in 1878; this may be regarded as his masterpiece. In 1827 he succeeded Henry Thomson
as Keeper of the Royal Academy
. Two of his works were bought by the British Institution
for churches for £525 and £1050, but the failure of "Edith finding the Body of Harold" (1834) to make more than £200 marked the end of the taste for such works. Hilton may be compared with Benjamin Haydon
, though he was always the more successful of the two. He died in London on the 30th of December 1839.
Some of his strongest pictures include "Angel releasing Peter from Prison" (life-size), painted in 1831, "Una with the Lion entering Corceca's Cave
" (1832), the "Murder of the Innocents," his last exhibited work (1838), "Comus
" and "Amphitrite
". The Tate Gallery
now owns "Edith finding the Body of Harold" (1834), "Cupid Disarmed, Rebecca and Abraham's Servant" (1829), "Nature blowing Bubbles for her Children" (1821), and "Sir Calepine rescuing Serena" (from The Faerie Queen) (1831).. In the National Portrait Gallery is his likeness of John Keats
, with whom he was acquainted.
Life and work
Hilton was born in LincolnLincoln, Lincolnshire
Lincoln is a cathedral city and county town of Lincolnshire, England.The non-metropolitan district of Lincoln has a population of 85,595; the 2001 census gave the entire area of Lincoln a population of 120,779....
, the son of a portrait-painter; he may be known as "William Hilton the Younger". Although he is best known today for simple portraits of the poets John Keats
John Keats
John Keats was an English Romantic poet. Along with Lord Byron and Percy Bysshe Shelley, he was one of the key figures in the second generation of the Romantic movement, despite the fact that his work had been in publication for only four years before his death.Although his poems were not...
and John Clare
John Clare
John Clare was an English poet, born the son of a farm labourer who came to be known for his celebratory representations of the English countryside and his lamentation of its disruption. His poetry underwent a major re-evaluation in the late 20th century and he is often now considered to be among...
, he was very successful in his lifetime with huge history painting
History painting
History painting is a genre in painting defined by subject matter rather than an artistic style, depicting a moment in a narrative story, rather than a static subject such as a portrait...
s in the "Grand Manner", which have so far not benefited at all from the revival of interest in 19th century British Academic art
Academic art
Academic art is a style of painting and sculpture produced under the influence of European academies of art. Specifically, academic art is the art and artists influenced by the standards of the French Académie des Beaux-Arts, which practiced under the movements of Neoclassicism and Romanticism,...
, and are not likely to be on display in the museums that own them.
In 1800, he was apprenticed with the engraver John Raphael Smith
John Raphael Smith
John Raphael Smith was an English painter and mezzotint engraver, son of Thomas Smith of Derby, the landscape painter, and father of John Rubens Smith, a painter who emigrated to the United States.-Biography:...
, and around the same time enrolled at the Royal Academy
Royal Academy
The Royal Academy of Arts is an art institution based in Burlington House on Piccadilly, London. The Royal Academy of Arts has a unique position in being an independent, privately funded institution led by eminent artists and architects whose purpose is to promote the creation, enjoyment and...
school. Hilton first exhibited there in 1803, sending a Group of Banditti and he soon established a reputation for choice of subject, and qualities of design and colour superior to the great mass of his contemporaries. He made a tour in Italy with Thomas Phillips
Thomas Phillips
Thomas Phillips was a leading English portrait and subject painter. He painted many of the great men of the day including scientists, artists, writers, poets and explorers.-Life and work:...
, the portrait-painter.
In 1813, having exhibited "Miranda and Ferdinand with the Logs of Wood," he was elected as an associate of the Academy, and in 1820 as a full academician; his diploma-picture representing Ganymede
Ganymede (mythology)
In Greek mythology, Ganymede is a divine hero whose homeland was Troy. Homer describes Ganymede as the most beautiful of mortals. In the best-known myth, he is abducted by Zeus, in the form of an eagle, to serve as cup-bearer in Olympus. Some interpretations of the myth treat it as an allegory of...
. In 1823, he produced his "Christ crowned with Thorns," a large and important work, subsequently bought as the first purchase of the Chantrey Fund in 1878; this may be regarded as his masterpiece. In 1827 he succeeded Henry Thomson
Henry Thomson (painter)
Henry Thomson RA was an English artist and Royal Academician who became Keeper of the Royal Academy.As a painter, he specialized in historical, mythological and literary subjects. He was also a translator.-Life:...
as Keeper of the Royal Academy
Royal Academy
The Royal Academy of Arts is an art institution based in Burlington House on Piccadilly, London. The Royal Academy of Arts has a unique position in being an independent, privately funded institution led by eminent artists and architects whose purpose is to promote the creation, enjoyment and...
. Two of his works were bought by the British Institution
British Institution
The British Institution was a private 19th-century society in London formed to exhibit the works of living and dead artists; it was also known as the Pall Mall Picture Galleries or the British Gallery...
for churches for £525 and £1050, but the failure of "Edith finding the Body of Harold" (1834) to make more than £200 marked the end of the taste for such works. Hilton may be compared with Benjamin Haydon
Benjamin Haydon
Benjamin Robert Haydon was an English historical painter and writer.-Biography:Haydon was born in Plymouth. His mother was the daughter of the Rev. Benjamin Cobley, rector of Dodbrooke, near Kingsbridge, Devon. Her brother, General Sir Thomas Cobley, was renowned for his part in the siege of Ismail...
, though he was always the more successful of the two. He died in London on the 30th of December 1839.
Some of his strongest pictures include "Angel releasing Peter from Prison" (life-size), painted in 1831, "Una with the Lion entering Corceca's Cave
The Faerie Queene
The Faerie Queene is an incomplete English epic poem by Edmund Spenser. The first half was published in 1590, and a second installment was published in 1596. The Faerie Queene is notable for its form: it was the first work written in Spenserian stanza and is one of the longest poems in the English...
" (1832), the "Murder of the Innocents," his last exhibited work (1838), "Comus
Comus
In Greek mythology, Comus or Komos is the god of festivity, revels and nocturnal dalliances. He is a son and a cup-bearer of the god Bacchus. Comus represents anarchy and chaos. His mythology occurs in the later times of antiquity. During his festivals in Ancient Greece, men and women exchanged...
" and "Amphitrite
Amphitrite
In ancient Greek mythology, Amphitrite was a sea-goddess and wife of Poseidon. Under the influence of the Olympian pantheon, she became merely the consort of Poseidon, and was further diminished by poets to a symbolic representation of the sea...
". The Tate Gallery
Tate Gallery
The Tate is an institution that houses the United Kingdom's national collection of British Art, and International Modern and Contemporary Art...
now owns "Edith finding the Body of Harold" (1834), "Cupid Disarmed, Rebecca and Abraham's Servant" (1829), "Nature blowing Bubbles for her Children" (1821), and "Sir Calepine rescuing Serena" (from The Faerie Queen) (1831).. In the National Portrait Gallery is his likeness of John Keats
John Keats
John Keats was an English Romantic poet. Along with Lord Byron and Percy Bysshe Shelley, he was one of the key figures in the second generation of the Romantic movement, despite the fact that his work had been in publication for only four years before his death.Although his poems were not...
, with whom he was acquainted.
Notable works
- Murder of the Innocents, his last exhibited work ,1838.
- Edith finding the Body of Harold ,1834.
- Venus in Search of Cupid Surprises Diana (Before 1820), Wallace Collection , London.
- Hebe
- Rape of Ganumede, 1806 , Royal Academy of Art Collection, London
- Cupid and the Nymphs , 1830, Royal Academy of Art Collection, London
- Rape of Proserpine
- Una and Satyrs, Lincolnshire County Council art collection.
- Phaeton , c 1820, Manchester Art Gallery.
- John Clare, portrait, 1820, National Portrait Gallery, London
- John Keats, portrait, c1822, National Portrait Gallery, London
- Diana at the Bath circa 1820, Tate Gallery, London
- Nature Blowing Bubbles for her Children exhibited 1821 ,Tate Gallery, London
- Cupid and Nymph exhibited 1828, Tate Gallery, London
- Sir Calepine Rescuing Serena exhibited 1831, Tate Gallery, London
- Rebecca and Abraham's Servant at the Well exhibited 1833, Tate Gallery, London
- Editha and the Monks Searching for the Body of Harold 1834, Tate Gallery, London