Studies of Emma, Lady Hamilton (1765-1815) in profile at Naples

Thomas Hope was an art collector and connoisseur, as well as a draughtsman and designer, credited with introducing the term 'interior decoration' into the English language. He spent eight years from 1787 travelling through Turkey, Egypt, Syria, Greece and Italy, studying classical architecture and civilisation, and made several subsequent tours. In 1801, he acquired a vast collection of classical vases from Sir William Hamilton, through whom he would have met Emma. Her classical dress recalls her 'Attitudes', the performance of classical poses and characters which she developed from posing for Romney. Hope's library sale was held in these Rooms, 25-27 July 1917.