John Hamilton Mortimer

George Thompson, his Wife and (?) his Sister-in-Law

c.1766–8

Image released under Creative Commons CC-BY-NC-ND (3.0 Unported)

License this image

Not on display
Artist
John Hamilton Mortimer 1740–1779
Medium
Oil paint on canvas
Dimensions
Support: 997 x 1260 mm
Collection
Tate
Acquisition
Bequeathed by Mrs Elizabeth Carstairs 1952
Reference
N06158

Display caption

The group shows Lt. Col. George Thompson and his wife, who have been reading the collected works of the satirical poet Charles Churchill. A lady visitor, carrying her reticule and flowers, interrupts their slippered ease. From the casual gesture with which Thompson motions her towards a chair, one can assume that she is a close relation.The cosy domesticity displayed here is the essence of the small-scale informal group portrait or conversation piece. It is not surprising that Mortimer, who was also a painter of lively theatrical scenes, endows the present portrait with a stage like presence – perhaps even incorporating a hidden joke.

Gallery label, May 2007

Does this text contain inaccurate information or language that you feel we should improve or change? We would like to hear from you.

Conversation piece

Explore

You might like

John Hamilton Mortimer, ‘II. The Hero’s Father Blesses his Departure’ exhibited 1775

John Hamilton Mortimer II. The Hero’s Father Blesses his Departure

exhibited 1775
N05838
John Hamilton Mortimer, ‘I. The Hero Decides to Seek his Fortune’ exhibited 1775

John Hamilton Mortimer I. The Hero Decides to Seek his Fortune

exhibited 1775
N05837
Sir Joshua Reynolds, ‘Lord and Lady Ashburton’ 1782–3

Sir Joshua Reynolds Lord and Lady Ashburton

1782–3
N06244
John Hamilton Mortimer, ‘IV. The Hero’s Father Blesses his Marriage’ exhibited 1775

John Hamilton Mortimer IV. The Hero’s Father Blesses his Marriage

exhibited 1775
N05840
Johan Zoffany, ‘Colonel Blair with his Family and an Indian Ayah’ 1786

Johan Zoffany Colonel Blair with his Family and an Indian Ayah

1786
T12610
Johan Zoffany, ‘Mr and Mrs Dalton and their Niece Mary de Heulle’ c.1765–8

Johan Zoffany Mr and Mrs Dalton and their Niece Mary de Heulle

c.1765–8
On display at Tate Britain part of Walk Through British Art T01895
George Romney, ‘Mr and Mrs William Lindow’ 1772

George Romney Mr and Mrs William Lindow

1772
N01396
Sir Joshua Reynolds, ‘Sketch for ‘The 4th Duke of Marlborough and his Family’’ c.1777

Sir Joshua Reynolds Sketch for ‘The 4th Duke of Marlborough and his Family’

c.1777
N01840
manner of John Hamilton Mortimer, ‘Rocky Landscape with Banditti’ c.1770–80

Manner of John Hamilton Mortimer Rocky Landscape with Banditti

c.1770–80
T00342
John Hamilton Mortimer, ‘III. The Hero Rescues the Prisoners’ exhibited 1775

John Hamilton Mortimer III. The Hero Rescues the Prisoners

exhibited 1775
N05839
Sir Joshua Reynolds, ‘Sir Watkin Williams-Wynn and his Mother’ c.1768–9

Sir Joshua Reynolds Sir Watkin Williams-Wynn and his Mother

c.1768–9
On display at Tate Britain part of Walk Through British Art N05750
John Hamilton Mortimer, ‘Sir Arthegal, the Knight of Justice, with Talus, the Iron Man (from Spenser’s ‘Faerie Queene’)’ exhibited 1778

John Hamilton Mortimer Sir Arthegal, the Knight of Justice, with Talus, the Iron Man (from Spenser’s ‘Faerie Queene’)

exhibited 1778
T02057
Francis Hayman, ‘Thomas Nuthall and his Friend Hambleton Custance’ c.1748

Francis Hayman Thomas Nuthall and his Friend Hambleton Custance

c.1748
T00052
Johan Zoffany, ‘The Bradshaw Family’ exhibited 1769

Johan Zoffany The Bradshaw Family

exhibited 1769
On display at Tate Britain part of Walk Through British Art N06261
Francis Hayman, ‘Samuel Richardson, the Novelist (1684-1761), Seated, Surrounded by his Second Family’ 1740–1

Francis Hayman Samuel Richardson, the Novelist (1684-1761), Seated, Surrounded by his Second Family

1740–1
On display at Tate Britain part of Walk Through British Art T12221