Mrs Lilian Vereker Hamilton
Other names: née Swainson
Born 1865
Died 24 May 1939
Active: 1881 - 1913
Country of birth and death: England
Sculptor, medallist
Born in Mitcham, Surrey. She was the daughter of Edwin Newcome Swainson (c.1833-1913), assistant secretary of the Admiralty who seems to have been declared insane, possibly in the late 1880s. He spent some time in Holloway Sanatorium. Lilian studied at the Slade School, London, from 1881-1886, under Alphonse Legros.
In 1886 she married Vereker Monteith Hamilton (1856-1931), painter of military subjects whose effects were valued at £3,831 17s. 6d. in 1931. Her known works include a medallion dating from about 1903 of Dorothea Beale (1831-1906), Principal of Cheltenham Ladies' College, National Portrait Gallery, London. Her sister Mary was also trained by Legros and worked as a teacher and medallist in Cheltenham, London and Paris.
Wealth at death: £3,475 8s. 6d.
Probate date: 15 September 1939
Works
Dates are usually the year a work was exhibited so may differ from date of production.
New entries have been made each time a work was exhibited. Click here for more information.
Locations
Address Netherhampton House Netherhampton Salisbury | View on map
1901 (Circa)
Address 4 Sheffield Terrace Kensington London | View on map
1905 (Circa)
Address 6 St Alban's Mansions Kensington London | View on map
1911 (Circa)
Address Coopers Wood Holtye Common Edenbridge | View on map
1931 (Circa) - 1939
Exhibitions, Meetings, Awards and other Events
Exhibited at Fifth Exhibition of the International Society of Sculptors, Painters and Gravers (London), 1905
'Case of Bronze Medallions'
Exhibited at The Spring Exhibition of The International Society of Sculptors, Painters and Gravers (London), 1913
Multiple works
Exhibited at The International Society of Sculptors, Painters and Gravers Exhibition (Corporation of Manchester Art Gallery), 1905
'Case of Medallions'
Personal and Professional Connections
Sister/sibling of Mary Swainson
Studied under Alphonse Legros
Forrer notes that Hamilton studied under Legros at the Slade School of Art, London from 1881 to 1886. See Forrer, vol. 7, (1923), p. 413.
Descriptions of Practice
Listed as medallist Biographical Dictionary of Medallists, Coin, Gem, and Seal-Engravers, Mint Masters, &c., Ancient and Modern with References to their Works, B.C. 500 - A.D. 1900, Volume II, 1904 Biographical Dictionary of Medallists
Listed as a contemporary sculptor and medallist. Produced medals and exhibited at the Society of Medallists' exhibitions [summary]: see Forrer, vol. 2, (1904), p. 409. Forrer cites Spielmann's 'British Sculptors of To-day' (1901), as a source.
Listed as medallist The Art Circle Exhibition of Oil and Water Colour Paintings, held in E. Chamberlain's Fine Art Rooms, 19 Temple Row, 24 November - 22 December 1881 Art Circle Exhibition Catalogues
Forrer notes that Hamilton first exhibited medals in 1888, and that articles on her work appeared in numerous magazines and journals including 'Magazine of Art' (July, 1901), and 'Numismatic Circular' (June, 1903). Forrer lists a number of the artist's medallic works dated 1904, 1908, 1909, 1910, and exhibited a medal at the Sociéte National des Beaux-Arts in 1912. Forrer also lists medallic works that were exhibited at the Royal Academy, London, between 1889 and 1904. See vol. 7 (1923), pp. 413-14.
Occupation given in Census Returns of England and Wales, 1881
'Art Student' her sister Mary was also listed as an art student, both living at home
Occupation given in Census Returns of England and Wales, 1891
'Sculptor'
Occupation given in Census Returns of England and Wales, 1901
'Medallist' working at home
Occupation given in Census Returns of England and Wales, 1911
'Sculptor (Artist)' working on own account at home (her husband also listed as 'Painter (Artist)' working on own account, though not at home)
Sources
Catalogue of the International Society of Sculptors, Painters & Gravers' Exhibition, Corporation of Manchester Art Gallery, 1905
1905
Cat. No. 331, pp. 47, 56
Catalogue of the Spring Exhibition, 1913, held at the Grosvenor Gallery, 51a New Bond Street., W.
1913
p.13.
Census Returns of England and Wales, 1881
2004
Class: RG11; Piece: 188; Folio: 93
Census Returns of England and Wales, 1891
2004
RG12 piece 546 folio 71 page 6
Census Returns of England and Wales, 1901
2005
RG13 piece 1957 folio 30 page 18
Census Returns of England and Wales, 1911
2011
RG14PN105 RG78PN4 RD2 SD1 ED18 SN61
England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1966
2010
Name: Lilian Hamilton
Probate Date: 15 Sep 1939
Death Date: 24 May 1939
Death Place: Sussex, England
Registry: London, England
Citing this record
'Mrs Lilian Vereker Hamilton', Mapping the Practice and Profession of Sculpture in Britain and Ireland 1851-1951, University of Glasgow History of Art and HATII, online database 2011 [http://sculpture.gla.ac.uk/view/person.php?id=msib2_1204844969, accessed 08 Jun 2023]
