Student Artwork Guide
Copyright This work is in the public domain. George Hayter died in 1871; copyright lasts 70 years after the artist’s death, so it ended in 1941.
In context
William Wilberforce — George Hayter
Row above: the years. Row below: how old the artist was at the start and at the end of each span — 0 at birth, 79 at death.
Shaded: the lifetime of George Hayter (1792–1871) every dated painting, decade by decade
This record has no exact year on file — using the artist's lifetime and the work's style, what decade would you guess?
Pick one work above: name two things it shares with this one, and one thing that's different.
More works to set beside this one: artsdot.com/en/art/similar/george-hayter-william-wilberforce-9DH4EC-en/
Measured from the image
Main colour
Black #15120c
Catalogued palette
These colours inside the artist’s whole palette Find other paintings by colour
The ten leading countries
Find the three darkest countries on the map. Is the museum that keeps this painting in any of them? Write down one reason people far away might look at it.
Together these works take 99.9% of all the attention this artist's paintings received over the last twelve months. The catalogue holds 105 works by this artist, of which 19 were looked at at least once. This painting has not been looked at yet in that time — it closes the list without a rank. The same counts, month by month
Bars measure attention, not quality. Pick the work at the top and this one: name one thing that might make a painting famous beyond how well it is painted.
Artist and museum
Born in St James's, United Kingdom
Born: December 17, 1792, in St James's, London, England
Died: January 18, 1871, in London, England
Parents: Charles Hayter (miniature painter and drawing teacher) and an unknown mother.
Early Training: Admitted to the Royal Academy Schools early in his life. Studied under Fuseli.
Naval Service: Briefly served as a midshipman in the Royal Navy in 1808, but left after a disagreement about his art studies.
Family Life: Married Sarah Milton when he was 15 and she was 28; they had three children. Later formed a relationship with Louisa Cauty, with whom he had two more children. His domestic life was unconventional for the time.
Early Style: Initially focused on miniatures and portraits in chalk and crayons.
Italian Period (1816-1826): Studied in Rome, influenced by Canova's classical style; painted a portrait of Canova. Became a member of the Academy of St. Luke in Rome.
Significant Works:
The Trial of Queen Caroline in the House of Lords (1820) – A large-scale work demonstrating his taste for dramatic scenes.
The Trial of William, Lord Russell (1825) - Celebrated John Russell’s ancestry.
Moving the Address to the Crown on the Opening of the First Reformed Parliament in the Old House of Commons (1833-1843) – A monumental work depicting a key moment in British history, showcasing nearly 400 portraits. Purchased by the government for the nation in 1854.
The Coronation of Queen Victoria (1838) - An important royal portrait.
The Marriage of Queen Victoria (1840) – Another significant royal commission.
Style: Known for dramatic compositions, large-scale works with numerous figures, and a taste for historical subjects.
Appointment to the Royal Court: Appointed ‘painter of miniatures and portraits’ by Princess Charlotte and Prince Leopold early in his career.
Principal Painter in Ordinary: Following David Wilkie's death, appointed 'principal painter in ordinary to the queen' in 1841.
Knighthood: Knighted in 1841 for his services to the crown.
Foreign Honours: Received the Persian order of the Lion and Sun.
Charles Hayter (Father): Early artistic training under his father, a miniature painter.
Canova: Influenced by Canova's classical style during his time in Rome.
French Romantic Art: Showed assimilation of the style and exotic subject-matter of contemporary French romantic art.
Historical Significance: His large historical paintings, particularly The Moving of the Address to the Crown, provide valuable visual records of significant events in British history. He captured a pivotal moment in parliamentary reform.
Legacy: While not elected to the Royal Academy, Hayter achieved considerable recognition and royal favour during his lifetime. His works are held in major collections including the National Portrait Gallery and the Royal Collection.
Continued to paint portraits and historical subjects throughout his later years.
Exhibited at the British Institution until 1859.
Death: Died on January 18, 1871, in London.
artsdot.com/en/art/download/george-hayter-william-wilberforce-9DH4EC-en/
Look closely
William Wilberforce — George Hayter
Answer in your own words. There are no wrong answers here — only answers you can explain.
Write a short paragraph about this artwork. Use the facts from the earlier parts of this guide, and your answers above.
"William Wilberforce" by George Hayter can be previewed on your own wall with the artwork's AR Preview page, using augmented reality on a compatible device.
"William Wilberforce" is attributed to George Hayter.
black (#15120c) is the leading color of "William Wilberforce" by George Hayter.