Queen Mary II (1662-94) Reigned with King William III 1688-94

William Wissing (1656 - 1687)

Oil on canvas

c.1685

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  • About the work
    Location
    Country: UK
    City: London
    Place: Downing Street

    This work was purchased from Christie’s, London, on 28 February 1947 (Lot 100). It was sold together with another portrait by Wissing (GAC 289), which may depict Margaret ("Peg") Hughes (died 1719), actress and mistress of Prince Rupert, as a single lot. The two portraits were sold by Reginald Arthur Tatton (1857-1926) of Cuerdon Hall, Lancashire, and were probably formerly owned by his ancestor Robert Towneley Parker (1793-1879).

  • About the artist
    William Wissing, said to have been born in Amsterdam, studied at The Hague and worked in London from 1676. He was an assistant to portrait painter Sir Peter Lely, through whom he found patronage at court. Wissing was much patronised by James II, who sent him to the Netherlands in 1685 to paint portraits of William and Mary. There is a French influence in Wissing’s paintings, reminiscent of the work of Nicolas de Largillièrre, who also worked with Lely in London. By 1685, Wissing commanded a busy studio. His assistants included Jan Vandervaart, who added landscape backgrounds, drapery and floral accessories to the portraits. Wissing died while working on a portrait of the Fifth Earl of Exeter and his sons, at Burghley House in Lincolnshire.
  • Explore
    People
    Mary II (1662 - 1694)
    Places
    Subjects
    royal portrait, rose, flower, woman, 17th century costume, ermine, robe, necklace, brooch, earring, pearls, fur, Queen, column, pillar (architectural feature)
    Materials & Techniques
    canvas, oil, oil painting
  • Details
    Artist
    William Wissing (1656 - 1687)
    Title
    Queen Mary II (1662-94) Reigned with King William III 1688-94
    Date
    c.1685
    Medium
    Oil on canvas
    Dimensions
    height: 124.00 cm, width: 99.00 cm
    Acquisition
    Purchased from Christie's, 28 February 1947
    Provenance
    Probably collection of Robert Towneley Parker (1793-1879); collection of Parker’s ancestor Reginald Arthur Tatton (1857-1926) of Cuerdon Hall, Preston, Lancashire; by whose executors sold through Christie’s, London, on 28 February 1947 (Lot 100; with GAC 289); from which sale purchased by ‘Scull’ or ‘Scott’ on behalf of the Office of Works
    GAC number
    290