Gawen Hamilton, ca. 1697–1737, Britishformerly William Hogarth, 1697–1764, British
Title:
The Brothers Clarke with Other Gentlemen Taking Wine
Date:
between 1730 and 1735
Materials & Techniques:
Oil on canvas
Dimensions:
32 1/2 x 45 1/2 inches (82.6 x 115.6 cm)
Credit Line:
Yale Center for British Art, Paul Mellon Collection
Copyright Status:
Public Domain
Accession Number:
B1981.25.319
Gallery Label:
In the 1730s Gawen Hamilton was considered to be the chief rival to William Hogarth in the genre of the conversation piece. According to George Vertue, "[H]is paintings of Conversations small figures are agreable [sic] & much variety & correctness of mode & manner of the time & habits. [H]e may well be esteemd [sic] a rival to Hogarth[,] having as much justness [,] if not so much fire." Indeed, the attribution of B1981.25.319 went back and forth between Hogarth or Hamilton several times during the twentieth century. In what was intended to be a group portrait, the Clarke brothers (their surname is all we know) and other bewigged gentlemen sit or stand around a covered table on which there are decanters of wine and a clear glass carafe. All of the tapered conical glasses are empty except for that of the seated gentleman, presumably one of the Clarke brothers, looking out at the viewer. On the left, a servant can be seen filling a decanter from a large wine cooler on the floor, while a servant boy next to him holds a tray of glasses, watching and waiting for the bottle to be filled. On the table next to them is a two-handled ceremonial drinking cup. In addition to the gentlemen's dress and deportment, the paintings and decorative overmantel behind them attest to their culture and refinement. A more elaborate version of this overmantel appears in Hamilton's The Du Cane and Boehm Family Group (1734-35; Tate, T07505). Gallery label for installation of YCBA collection, 2017