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John Hamilton (artist)
Encyclopedia
John Hamilton MC
(1919–1993) was a British army officer and artist.
. Throughout World War II
, he served in the British Army
in India
as a member of the Queen’s Royal Regiment. As a junior officer at the age of 24, he received the Military Cross
for gallantry during active operations against the enemy. Following his army service, he began a business career and settled in 1961 on the island of Tresco in the Isles of Scilly
, Cornwall
, where he sketched and painted for relaxation. In 1972, after a bout with angina, he sold his business and began painting on a full time basis.
in the English Channel
, specializing at first in painting the local topography, seascapes, traditional ships, and boats. Increasingly interested in the naval battles of World War II, in 1972 he began to paint a series of historical paintings on the War in the Atlantic, undertaking extensive archival research in London, Washington, and Stuttgart, and interviewing survivors. After seven years of work, he completed this 84-painting series at the end of 1978. Through the generosity of several shipping companies and the HMS Belfast Trust, his series of paintings is now in the collection of the Imperial War Museum
, London, on board the museum ship HMS Belfast. On the completion of the Atlantic series, Hamilton started work on a new series of paintings on the War in the Pacific, widening his archival researches and interviewing to Canberra and Tokyo with extensive research work at the Naval Historical Center
in Washington, D.C. With the help of foundations in Texas
, Hamilton completed more than 120 paintings in five years. This collection is now part of the U.S. Navy Art Collection. 176 of the total 204 paintings in the two series were published in Hamilton’s book War at Sea, 1939-1945.
After completing his work on World War II, Hamilton turned to the more recent Falklands War
and a study of the uses of the helicopter
during that conflict. This project required three visits to the Falkland Islands
and four years to produce 46 paintings. In his 70s, he developed an interest in the Antarctic and spent two winters there on board HMS Endurance (A171)
, painting the scenery and doing historical paintings of Sir Ernest Shackleton
’s expedition using the evidence of surviving buildings, in addition to research, to recreate historical scenes. In this work, he became a key figure in inspiring the organisation of the UK Antarctic Heritage Trust
.
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
(1919–1993) was a British army officer and artist.
Early Life and Military Career
John Hamilton was born in England in 1919 and was educated at Bradfield CollegeBradfield College
Bradfield College is a coeducational independent school located in the small village of Bradfield in the English county of Berkshire.The college was founded in 1850 by Thomas Stevens, Rector and Lord of the Manor of Bradfield...
. Throughout World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, he served in the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
as a member of the Queen’s Royal Regiment. As a junior officer at the age of 24, he received the Military Cross
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
for gallantry during active operations against the enemy. Following his army service, he began a business career and settled in 1961 on the island of Tresco in the Isles of Scilly
Isles of Scilly
The Isles of Scilly form an archipelago off the southwestern tip of the Cornish peninsula of Great Britain. The islands have had a unitary authority council since 1890, and are separate from the Cornwall unitary authority, but some services are combined with Cornwall and the islands are still part...
, Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
, where he sketched and painted for relaxation. In 1972, after a bout with angina, he sold his business and began painting on a full time basis.
Career as an Artist
He began by selling his work to tourists, who visited the Isles of ScillyIsles of Scilly
The Isles of Scilly form an archipelago off the southwestern tip of the Cornish peninsula of Great Britain. The islands have had a unitary authority council since 1890, and are separate from the Cornwall unitary authority, but some services are combined with Cornwall and the islands are still part...
in the English Channel
English Channel
The English Channel , often referred to simply as the Channel, is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean that separates southern England from northern France, and joins the North Sea to the Atlantic. It is about long and varies in width from at its widest to in the Strait of Dover...
, specializing at first in painting the local topography, seascapes, traditional ships, and boats. Increasingly interested in the naval battles of World War II, in 1972 he began to paint a series of historical paintings on the War in the Atlantic, undertaking extensive archival research in London, Washington, and Stuttgart, and interviewing survivors. After seven years of work, he completed this 84-painting series at the end of 1978. Through the generosity of several shipping companies and the HMS Belfast Trust, his series of paintings is now in the collection of the Imperial War Museum
Imperial War Museum
Imperial War Museum is a British national museum organisation with branches at five locations in England, three of which are in London. The museum was founded during the First World War in 1917 and intended as a record of the war effort and sacrifice of Britain and her Empire...
, London, on board the museum ship HMS Belfast. On the completion of the Atlantic series, Hamilton started work on a new series of paintings on the War in the Pacific, widening his archival researches and interviewing to Canberra and Tokyo with extensive research work at the Naval Historical Center
Naval Historical Center
The Naval History & Heritage Command is the official history program of the United States Navy and is located at the historic Washington Navy Yard in the District of Columbia.-Mission :...
in Washington, D.C. With the help of foundations in Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, Hamilton completed more than 120 paintings in five years. This collection is now part of the U.S. Navy Art Collection. 176 of the total 204 paintings in the two series were published in Hamilton’s book War at Sea, 1939-1945.
After completing his work on World War II, Hamilton turned to the more recent Falklands War
Falklands War
The Falklands War , also called the Falklands Conflict or Falklands Crisis, was fought in 1982 between Argentina and the United Kingdom over the disputed Falkland Islands and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands...
and a study of the uses of the helicopter
Helicopter
A helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by one or more engine-driven rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forwards, backwards, and laterally...
during that conflict. This project required three visits to the Falkland Islands
Falkland Islands
The Falkland Islands are an archipelago in the South Atlantic Ocean, located about from the coast of mainland South America. The archipelago consists of East Falkland, West Falkland and 776 lesser islands. The capital, Stanley, is on East Falkland...
and four years to produce 46 paintings. In his 70s, he developed an interest in the Antarctic and spent two winters there on board HMS Endurance (A171)
HMS Endurance (A171)
MV Polar Circle was built in Norway in 1990, chartered by the Royal Navy as HMS Polar Circle, and finally purchased as HMS Endurance. She is a former Antarctic ice patrol ship, and is a class 1A1 icebreaker...
, painting the scenery and doing historical paintings of Sir Ernest Shackleton
Ernest Shackleton
Sir Ernest Henry Shackleton, CVO, OBE was a notable explorer from County Kildare, Ireland, who was one of the principal figures of the period known as the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration...
’s expedition using the evidence of surviving buildings, in addition to research, to recreate historical scenes. In this work, he became a key figure in inspiring the organisation of the UK Antarctic Heritage Trust
UK Antarctic Heritage Trust
The UK Antarctic Heritage Trust is a British charity, registered in 1993. The UKAHT is a member of the Antarctic Heritage Trust coalition. The UKAHT's Patron is HRH Princess Anne, The Princess Royal.The organization's stated goals are as follows:...
.
Published works
- Country capers: short stories and verses (1979)
- War at sea, 1939-1945 (1986)
- Sketching with a pencil: for those who are just beginning (1989)
- The Helicopter Story of The Falklands Campaign (1991)
- Sketching at home: for those who are just beginning (1991)
- The complete sketching book (1996)