Marianne-Caroline Hamilton was an Irish artist and memoirist.
Background
Marianne-Caroline Hamilton was born in 1771 at Rossana, County Wicklow. She was the second daughter of landowner and Member of Parliament for Athboy, William Tighe, and Sarah (née Fownes). Sarah Tighe was the heir of Sir William Fownes, and Lady Elizabeth Fownes (née Ponsonby).
Career
Her memoirs, Reminiscences of Marianne-Caroline Hamilton (1777–1861), were published in 2010. The family holidayed in Ireland, which she preferred due to the space and freedom she had there. Hamilton received a comprehensive education from a number of governesses, a master for arithmetic, and her brother"s tutor providing Latin tuition.
Her main interest was art however, later confessing to avoiding Latin classes to draw.
She travelled with her family, spending time in France, Flanders, and Holland, with the family returning to live in Ireland in 1795. John Inigo Spilsbury was employed as her drawing master, during which time she reached the skill level of a professional artist.
Charles was a land agent for the Dukes of Leinster. The couple had six children, Sarah, Caroline Elizabeth, Mary, Charles William, William Tighe, and Frederick John Henry Fownes.
From her writings it is evident she was deeply involved in the running of Hamwood and its gardens.
Hamilton wrote in a satirical style, providing a critical depiction of the Anglo-Irish ascendancy from that period. Her best known works include Domestic happiness as acted in the city: a tragic comic farce, The Kingston to Holyhead packet, and Society. Her family memoir was purchased by the National Library of Ireland from the estate of her descendant William Howard in the 1970s.
The memoir was published in 2010 as the edited volume Reminiscences of Marianne-Caroline Hamilton (1777–1861).
Hamilton died at her Dublin home, 40 Dominick Street, on 29 July 1861. Some of her drawings at still kept at Hamwood.
Desmond Fitzgerald and Professor Anne Crookshank used Hamilton"s drawings in books covering the history of art in Ireland. Her great-granddaughter was artist Letitia Marion Hamilton.