This biography is republished from The Dictionary of Irish Biography and was written by Rebecca Minch and Ruth Devine. Shared by permission in line with Creative Commons ‘Attribution’ (CC BY) licencing.
Born: 20 July 1878, Ireland
Died: 10 August 1964
Country most active: Ireland
Also known as: NA
Laetitia Hamilton (1878–1964) was born 20 July 1878 at Hamwood, third among the children. Her earliest work, watercolours of the gardens at Hamwood, was shown at the exhibition of the Watercolour Society of Ireland in 1902. She continued to exhibit there for much of her career. At this early period she exhibited under the name ‘May Hamilton’; she was known as ‘May’ among her family. At the Dublin Metropolitan School of Art, she also studied enamel and was awarded (1910) a prize for a plaque. In 1912 she won a silver medal in the board of education national competition, again for a work in enamel. These works show an interest in the decorative qualities of the art nouveau style, and look forward to her exploration of the abstract qualities of colour and form that characterise her later work in painting. She exhibited for the first time at the RHA in 1909 and continued to do so regularly throughout her career. She was elected a member of the academy in 1944. In 1920 she was a founder member of the Society of Dublin Painters, along with artists such as Grace Henry, Paul Henry, Mary Swanzy, and Jack B. Yeats. The society, which held its first exhibition in August 1920, aimed to provide a focus for young artists concerned with more avant-garde artistic trends. It was later joined by artists such as Harry Clarke and Mainie Jellett.
During the 1920s and 1930s she travelled in France, Italy, and Yugoslavia to paint, often in the company of her sister Eva. Her interest in the quality and effects of light, always a key artistic concern for her, was given greater scope on these visits to southern Europe. She also travelled extensively around Ireland. Everyday Irish life was an enduring theme for Hamilton throughout her career. The markets of various towns of the Irish midlands were a favourite source of inspiration for works such as ‘The fair at Castlepollard’ (c.1948, Brian P. Burns collection, Boston). Her style shows the influence of post-impressionist artists such as Van Gogh, whom she admired, and Dufy, as well as Irish artists such as Paul Henry and Roderic O’Conor. Comparisons may be drawn with O’Conor in her expressionistic application of paint. She developed a very personal method of using a palette knife, achieving the effect of impasto, which resulted in a lively picture surface so characteristic of her work. This skilful control of her medium can be seen in the painting ‘Snow in Co. Down’ (c.1937; Dublin City Gallery the Hugh Lane), a work that reflects her ability to respond to the aesthetic potential of natural forms. Hunting and racing scenes also feature in her work. She was awarded a bronze medal in the ‘sport in art’ section of the Olympic Games of 1948 for her painting ‘Meath point-to-point’.
In October 1939 her work was included in the ‘Loan and cross-section exhibition of contemporary paintings’ held at the Contemporary Picture Galleries, Dublin, alongside artists from abroad (such as Braque, Dufy, and Picasso) and Irish artists Mainie Jellett and Jack B. Yeats. In February 1939 her work had been among that chosen by Victor Waddington to take to the United States to promote Irish art there. She became president of the Dublin Painters Society in the late 1950s. Despite failing eyesight she continued to paint and exhibit in the early 1960s.
After 1946 she lived with her sisters at Lucan, where their lifestyle was reminiscent of the prewar conventions of their formative years, despite somewhat straitened circumstances after the death of their father. From that time the income she derived from her painting was an important source of support for herself and her sisters. Hamilton impressed those who knew her with her charm, a deep love of nature and animals, and a boundless enthusiasm for all she did. She died 10 August 1964 in Dublin; she never married.