Background
Hamlet Winstanley was born in Warrington, Lancashire, the second son of William Winstanley, a tradesman.
Hamlet Winstanley was born in Warrington, Lancashire, the second son of William Winstanley, a tradesman.
In 1707 he was placed under the tuition of Samuel Shaw, rector of the parish and master of the Boteler free grammar school. He remained in London for three years, having the personal attention of Sir Godfrey Kneller. Winstanley returned to Warrington in 1721 with a commission to paint the portrait of Sir Edward Stanley.
Its success led to his introduction to James Stanley, 10th Earl of Derby, and the earl ordered him to come and paint for him at his seat at Knowsley Hall.
During the next two years he painted landscapes and portraits, including one of the earl. He was in Rome from 1723 to 1725.
He spent his later years at Warrington, where he built Stanley Street, and named it after his patrons at Knowsley. He died at Warrington on 18 May 1756.
His collections of copper-plates and prints are stated by Horace Walpole to have been sold by auction at Essex House on 18 March 1762.