William Evelyn of St Clere, Kent, Holding a Spaniel 1768 - 1789

Hugh Douglas Hamilton made this portrait of William Evelyn holding a spaniel using pastel on paper. Pastel is an interesting medium - essentially pure pigment bound with just enough binder to hold it together. The powdery quality we see here results directly from that recipe. It allows for a feathery, soft-edged application of color, perfect for capturing the delicate features of a child. Hamilton has used this to great effect in rendering William’s fair hair and complexion. Look closely, and you can see individual strokes of pastel, built up layer upon layer. This isn't painting in the traditional sense; it's more like drawing with pure color. Pastel was favored for portraiture, as it allowed artists to work relatively quickly and create flattering likenesses. It was a luxury product, and so, it was well-suited to depicting the well-to-do. This portrait offers a glimpse into the material culture of the British upper class, from the sitter’s fine clothes to the artist’s skilled handling of a refined medium.