John the Baptist and two men, with Christ
William Hamilton British
Not on view
Hamilton belonged to a generation determined to expand the scope of the arts in Britain. He traveled to Rome as a teenager to study with Antonio Zucchi, returned to England to make decorative paintings for Robert Adam, then entered the Royal Academy Schools in 1769. From that point forward he focused on historical and literary subjects, together with portaits. This early drawing may relate to lines in chapter 3 of Matthew's Gospel where Jesus approaches John the Baptist by the River Jordan as the latter baptises repentant Israelites.
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