Hugh Douglas Hamilton Auction Prices and Value Guide

Hugh Douglas Hamilton auction prices are tracked in Appraisily's artist market index, with source-directory coverage of 219 records. Use this page to review sold-lot activity, market context, and valuation factors before requesting a formal appraisal.

Hugh Douglas Hamilton auction prices: quick answer

Hugh Douglas Hamilton auction prices depend on medium, size, date, condition, provenance, edition details, attribution confidence, and recent comparable auction sales.

Artist
Hugh Douglas Hamilton
Source records
219
Market update
2026-02-06

Artist context

About Hugh Douglas Hamilton

Hugh Douglas Hamilton (c. 1740–1808) was an Irish portrait painter celebrated for his sensitive portrayals of Anglo-Irish society, British aristocrats, and Grand Tour travelers. Born in Dublin, Hamilton established himself as a leading pastelist before broadening into oil painting. He worked in London for a period before relocating to Rome around 1778, where he attracted an international clientele of visiting nobility and dignitaries. His Roman portraits, such as those of Frederick Hervey, the 4th Earl of Bristol, and his granddaughter in the gardens of the Villa Borghese, are among his most recognized compositions. Hamilton returned to Dublin in the early 1790s and continued painting prominent Irish figures until his death in 1808. A major retrospective at the National Gallery of Ireland in 2008–2009 reaffirmed his significance in the history of Irish art. Over 140 works are catalogued in the RKD images database.

18th-century British and Irish portraiturePastelOil on canvasDrawingPortraits of aristocratic and political figures (e.g., Frederick Hervey, Earl of Bristol; Charles Cornwallis; Frederick North)Grand Tour sitters and Anglo-Irish society in Rome

Common works and media

Collectors most frequently encounter Hamilton's pastel portraits on paper or vellum, typically bust-length or half-length depictions of seated sitters. His oil portraits on canvas range from small cabinet-size works to full-length compositions, often depicting Anglo-Irish landowners, clergy, military officers, and political figures. Drawings and preparatory sketches also appear on the market. Common subjects include individual portraits of men and women, occasional double portraits, and rare genre or literary scenes such as classical subjects drawn during his Rome period.

Market and appraisal context

Hamilton's works appear at auction primarily under Old Master Paintings and Old Master Drawings categories. His pastel portraits from the early-to-mid career and his later oil portraits from the Dublin period represent the two main groups collectors encounter. Provenance to a notable sitter — such as a titled aristocrat or political figure — is a key value driver. The medium matters: oil paintings generally command higher prices than pastels, though exceptional pastels with distinguished sitters can be competitive. As with all 18th-century works, condition assessment is essential, especially for pastels, which are vulnerable to fading and surface deterioration. Attribution should be confirmed, since Hamilton's stylistic influence extended to contemporaries such as Lewis Vaslet.

Auction categories and appraisal factors

Common auction categories

  • Old Master Paintings
  • Old Master Drawings

Value drivers

  1. Medium (pastel portraits vs. oil paintings) affects market value
  2. Provenance to notable sitters such as Anglo-Irish aristocrats and Grand Tour travelers increases collector interest
  3. Condition and attribution should be verified; pastel works require careful assessment of fading and support
  4. Works from the Rome period (c. 1778–1791) and later Dublin oil portraits represent distinct phases that may differ in market appeal

Appraisal caveats

  • No specific auction price records are included in the available source pack; realized prices should be verified via dedicated auction databases.
  • The artist's birth year is disputed (1736–1740), which can affect dating of early works and provenance claims.

Evidence

Sources for artist context

This source-grounded artist context passed Appraisily's promotion threshold: high confidence, strong sources.

Source-grounded artist Markdown

Data basis

This page is built from Appraisily's public auction market index. Private transactions, incomplete sale feeds, and attribution changes may not be fully represented.

LLM-readable Markdown summary for Hugh Douglas Hamilton

LLM summary index · LLM full index

Artist value FAQ

How much is Hugh Douglas Hamilton worth?

Comparable public auction sales are the best starting point, but final value depends on the specific artwork, condition, size, medium, provenance, and attribution confidence.

Can Appraisily value my Hugh Douglas Hamilton artwork?

Yes. Appraisily can review photos, dimensions, signatures, condition, provenance, and comparable market data to prepare a current valuation.