Emma Hamilton, Lady of Many Talents

Kenwood House Volunteer, Tamara Rabin, gives an online Spotlight Talk on Emma Hamilton, whose portraits by George Romney hang amongst the great art collection at Kenwood House, London. Emma Hart (1765 – 1815) was the most painted person of her time. She was muse to George Romney, who painted over 60 portraits of her. She had a chequered life, rising through society from maid to eventually wife of Sir William Hamilton, British Envoy to Naples. She was mistress to many, but most famously to Admiral Lord Nelson. Tamara Rabin relates the sad tale of Emma’s life, and illustrates her progression through society’s ranks with some of Romney’s portraits. Introduction and fade out music: Haydn’s ‘Nelson Mass’, written as the Missa in Angustiis (Mass for Troubled Times) by its composer in 1798. In that same year, 1798, Nelson defeated Napoleon at the Battle of the Nile and the music acquired its sobriquet in 1800. Produced by Friends of Kenwood www.friendsofkenwood.org.uk