Lady Hamilton in Straw Hat - after George Romney

E. M. Hester

Interestingly, the name "E.M. Hester" is referred to by many institutions, including the British museum, as an unknown male artist. However, census research by print enthusiasts revealed that "E.M." likely stood for "Edith Mary", as Edith Mary Hester was the daughter of Edward Gilbert Hester, himself a noted British printmaker. After further digging, we discovered that "Miss E.M. Hester" had been selected by the Art Union of London to reproduce a William Robert Symonds painting, "Day Dreamer", for distribution among their subscribers in the year 1907.

Of equal fascination is Lady Hamilton, the subject of this work. Referring to Dame Emma Hamilton (1765 - 1815), also known as Emma Hart, she lived an extraordinary life that took her from being a poor chambermaid to becoming one of London's most famous and controversial celebrities, to becoming a female member of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta and the lover of esteemed Royal Naval officer Nelson, to becoming rejected by society for her independent nature and, finally, dying in poverty at the age of just forty-nine. Of her life, historian James M. Kelly stated, "In a world of privilage and powerful men, her common birth and gender ultimately circumscribed her options."

In her youth she was also the primary muse of English portraitist George Romney, whose 1782 oil painting of Hamilton - after which this mezzotint was done - is among his most well known works. It is suggested that he fell into a deep depression after she married, and died not long after. Such was the intrigue of Hamilton's life throughout the years that she became the inspiration for Susan Sontag's 1992 novel The Volcano Lover.