Sir Samuel Romilly (1757-1818) Solicitor General

Location

Country: UK
City: London
Place: HM Revenue & Customs, 100 Parliament Street

William Owen, portrait painter, from Ludlow, Shropshire, was the son of a hairdresser and book seller. He moved to London in his 20s and was apprenticed to a coach-painter, before entering the Royal Academy Schools in 1791. He married the daughter of a shoemaker, thought to be wealthy, but declared insolvent at death. This left Owen bankrupt and imprisoned at Dover for his debts. He nonetheless became a member of the Academy in 1806 and Painter to the Prince of Wales in 1810, although the Prince never sat for him. He was later disabled by an infection of the spine and unable to paint after 1820. Aged 55, he died of poisoning when a chemist’s assistant mistakenly gave him opium. Many of his paintings were finished by Edward Daniel Leahy.

People

Sir Samuel Romilly (1757 - 1818)

Places

Subjects

paper (as Subject), book, male portrait, man, 19th century costume, breeches, dress coat, tassel, Solicitor General, Member of Parliament, armchair, table cloth, curtain, table (as Subject)

Materials & Techniques

canvas, oil, oil painting

Artist

William Owen (1769 - 1825)

Title

Sir Samuel Romilly (1757-1818) Solicitor General

Date

Medium

Oil on canvas

Dimensions

height: 127.00 cm, width: 101.00 cm

Acquisition

Purchased from Samuel Romilly, February 1982

Provenance

Possibly sold through Christie's, London, on 10 June 1859 (documented by sketch by George Scharf); purchased through Thos Cabot, attributed to M. Cregan

GAC number

16044