About this lot

Description

William Hamilton, RA (British, 1751–1801) The Angel appearing to Cornelius signed and dated lower left "Wm Hamilton RA 1798" oil on canvas 123 x 98cm (48 x 38in)
Provenance: Commissioned by Thomas Macklin, His sale, Coxe, Burrell & Foster, London, 5th May 1800, lot 48a (bought in); Macklin's Estate Sale, Peter Coxe, Burrell & Foster, 27th–30th May 1801, 3rd day, 29 May 1801, no 23; Christie's, London, 24th April 1830, lot 77, £6.0; Private collection, England Other Notes: The present painting was commissioned by the London publisher and print seller, Thomas Macklin (1752/53-1800), as part of his 'Macklin Bible' series. It was one of seventy works exhibited at his gallery and was engraved by James Thomson. The engravings executed after the paintings were used to illustrate the 'Macklin Bible'. The publication garnered a huge success with over 700 subscribers, and even attracted the interest of George III. Some of the paintings from this series are held in the collections of Tate Britain, Victoria & Albert Museum, The Yale Center for British Art and National Gallery of Canada.

Back to lot listings