Important British Paintings 1500-1850

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Lot 80
  • 80

George Romney 1734-1802

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Description

  • George Romney
  • Portrait of William Gillison of Melling, Lancashire (D.1780); and his wife, Miriam Gillison
  • a pair, both oil on canvas, in carved wood frames
Both three-quarter length, he standing wearing a grey coat and waistcoat, his arm resting on a table, she seated wearing a cream dress and a blue shawl, her left arm resting on a table

Provenance

Commissioned by William Gillison in 1760 and thence by family descent until sold by the Executors of Mrs B.N.G.Stayner, Sotheby's, 8th March 1989, lots 38 and 40

Literature

Alex Kidson, George Romney 1734-1802, catalogue for the exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery, 2002, pp.7-8, figs.4 and 5

Catalogue Note

William Gillison was the son of Ambrose Gillison and his wife, Ann Barnes. He was a merchant and purchased Melling Hall, Lancashire, circa, 1760. At the same time as this pair of portraits, William Gillison also commissioned Romney to paint the portrait of his sister, Ann.