Born in Scotland, worked much of his career in Rome, he mentored Benjamin West, worked with Piranesi, and bought Leonardo’s Virgin of the Rocks.
Hamilton
Paintings by William Blake, William Hogarth, Henry Fuseli, Paul Delaroche and others for this popular tragedy and history.
The last two years of his reign, marred by bad decisions, led to his forced abdication in favour of King Henry IV.
The English king who sealed Magna Carta in 1215, this tells of the treachery of his nobles, changing allegiances, and a death from dysentery.
A comedy involving two couples, both tricked in different ways. One bride faints in church when accused of infidelity. The other couple didn’t know they loved one another until deceived.
For 20 years, Boydell’s Shakespeare Gallery tried to establish an English School of History Painting. Or was it just a ploy to make money from prints?
His early ambition was to be a history painter. After studying in Rome, when he was on his way back to the US, he stopped off in London. For nearly sixty years.
Twin brother and sister are shipwrecked. She disguises herself as a eunuch, and has a noblewoman fall in love with her. Then it gets even more confusing. Great comedy.
Full of memorable lines such as “All the world’s a stage” and songs like “It was a lover and his lass”, a favourite comedy and well painted.
Almost banned in the 19th century, only one scene has been painted extensively, but that could refer instead to either of two of Tennyson’s poems.
The Eclectic Light Company 