Captain William Alexander Willis, RN (1799-1862)
John Hayes (c.1786 - 1866)
Category
Art / Oil paintings
Date
circa 1837
Materials
Oil on canvas
Measurements
345 x 280 mm (13 1/2 x 11 in)
Place of origin
Soho Square
Order this imageCollection
Clevedon Court, North Somerset
NT 624308
Summary
Oil painting on canvas, Captain William Alexander Willis, RN (1799-1862) by John Hayes, (fl.c.1786-1866), circa 1837. Inscribed on reverse. A portrait of a young man, half-length, facing, gazing at spectator his left arm resting on his hat. He has light brown curly hair, worn short, long sideburns and clean-shaven, wearing a dark blue naval coat with gilt buttons and gold epaulettes, high collar with central scarlet panel and gold braiding. Indistinct background. Son of James Legge Willis (1761-1817) and Flora Wynch (1776-1842); married Mary Ann Nott (1803-1875); his sister was Rhoda Susan Willis (1808-1873) the first wife of Sir Arthur Hallam Elton 7th Bt MP (1818-1883). His daughter was Mary Ann Frances Willis (1839-1919).
Provenance
Bequest of Colonel Richard ffolliot Willis, 1956 formerly lent to Lydiard Tregoze, Swindon; transferred to Clevedon Court in 1984
Credit line
Bequest of Col. Richard Ffolliot Willis, 1956 formerly lent to Lydiard Tregoze, Swindon; transferred to Clevedon Court
Marks and inscriptions
Verso: painted by John Hayes, Frith Street/Soho Square, London/Capn Willis RN/Vicars Hill, Hants
Makers and roles
John Hayes (c.1786 - 1866), artist
References
Laing 2003-4 Alastair Laing, 'A Tale of a Palace, Four Houses and One Collection', The Royal Oak Newsletter, Americans in Alliance with the National Trust, Winter 2003-4, pp.16-17 , 'A Tale of a Palace, Four Houses and One Collection. Hampton Court, Lyme Park, Lydiard Tregoze, Clevedon Court, Mompesson House, and the Willis Family Portraits.' p.16, illus. Caption to illustration: "Captain William Alexander Willis R.N. (1799-1862) in military dress by John Hayes, on the Stairs & Landing at Clevedon Court."