John Hamilton Mortimer (1740–1779): Bridging Classical Tradition and Romantic Vision John Hamilton Mortimer, a name perhaps less instantly recognizable than his contemporaries like Reynolds or Wright of Derby, nevertheless occupies a significant and fascinating niche within the landscape of 18th-century British art. Born in Eastbourne in 1740, Mortimer’s brief but intensely productive life—he died at just thirty-nine years old—was mar…