William Gorman Wills Sold at Auction Prices

Portrait painter, b. 1828 - d. 1891

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  • BWILLIAM GORMAN WILLS "COUNTRY LANDSCAPE"
    Jun. 15, 2024

    BWILLIAM GORMAN WILLS "COUNTRY LANDSCAPE"

    Est: $500 - $1,000

    WILLIAM GORMAN WILLS "COUNTRY LANDSCAPE" 1898 OIL ON CANVAS Height: 21.5 in. by Width: 29.5 in. by Depth: 1.5 in.

    Lewis & Maese Antiques & Auctions
  • WILLIAM GORMAN WILLS (Ireland, 1828 - 1891). "Portrait of Isabella of Bourbon". Oil on canvas. With author's identification plate and title in the frame.
    Oct. 10, 2023

    WILLIAM GORMAN WILLS (Ireland, 1828 - 1891). "Portrait of Isabella of Bourbon". Oil on canvas. With author's identification plate and title in the frame.

    Est: €12,000 - €14,000

    WILLIAM GORMAN WILLS (Ireland, 1828 - 1891). "Portrait of Isabella of Bourbon". Oil on canvas. With identifying plate of author and title in the frame. Measurements: 118 x 73 cm 161 x 116,5 cm (frame) William Gorman Wills, painter and playwright, shows remarkable skills in this portrait of the Infanta Isabel de Borbon. In contrast to the official portraits of the monarchy, in which the sitter is characterised by royal attributes, here the painter has focused on the mutual tenderness expressed by the dog and the girl. The figure emerges from a dark background, and her white satin dress and silky hair stand out in all their rightful qualities. The dog's fur and pearly flesh tones have also been worked with exquisite glazes. It was in the genre of portraiture that William Gorman Wills was at his best. William Gorman Wills, usually known as W. G. Wills, was an Irish playwright, novelist and painter. Wills was born at Blackwell lodge, Kilmurry, near Thomastown, County Kilkenny, Ireland. As a young man he was educated at Waterford Grammar School and later entered Trinity College Dublin, where he was awarded no degree but the Vice-Chancellor's Medal for his poem "Poland". He later left university and enrolled at the Royal Hibernian Academy in Dublin, where he studied painting. Although he had originally planned to study law, Wills preferred the arts. He exhibited at the Royal Hibernian Academy in 1852, and the Royal Academy in London in 1874. His first novel was Old Times, for which he also drew and engraved the illustrations. A second novel, The Wife's Evidence, was made into a play with some success. Wills then opted for a bohemian lifestyle, staying at the Arundel Club, and later joined the Garrick Club. Many of his plays were based on historical events. Charles I, about the life of the English king, was one of his greatest successes, running for 200 nights at the Lyceum in 1872-3. Other historical dramas include Mary Queen of Scots and England in the Days of Charles II. These plays have been much criticised for their freedom from historical fact. His biography, "W. G. Wills: Dramatist and Painter", was written by his brother Freeman Wills in 1898. James Joyce alludes to him and his play A Royal Divorce (about the divorce of Napoleon and Josephine) on numerous occasions in Finnegans Wake.

    Setdart Auction House
  • WILLIAM GORMAN WILLS (Ireland, 1828 - 1891). "Portrait of Isabella of Bourbon. Oil on canvas. With author's identification plate and title in the frame.
    Jul. 26, 2023

    WILLIAM GORMAN WILLS (Ireland, 1828 - 1891). "Portrait of Isabella of Bourbon. Oil on canvas. With author's identification plate and title in the frame.

    Est: €15,000 - €17,000

    WILLIAM GORMAN WILLS (Ireland, 1828 - 1891). "Portrait of Isabella of Bourbon. Oil on canvas. With identifying plate of author and title in the frame. Measurements: 118 x 73 cm 161 x 116,5 cm (frame) William Gorman Wills, painter and playwright, shows remarkable skills in this portrait of the Infanta Isabel de Borbon. In contrast to the official portraits of the monarchy, in which the sitter is characterised by royal attributes, here the painter has focused on the mutual tenderness expressed by the dog and the girl. The figure emerges from a dark background, and her white satin dress and silky hair stand out in all their rightful qualities. The dog's fur and pearly flesh tones have also been worked with exquisite glazes. It was in the genre of portraiture that William Gorman Wills was at his best. William Gorman Wills, usually known as W. G. Wills, was an Irish playwright, novelist and painter. Wills was born at Blackwell lodge, Kilmurry, near Thomastown, County Kilkenny, Ireland. As a young man he was educated at Waterford Grammar School and later entered Trinity College Dublin, where he was awarded no degree but the Vice-Chancellor's Medal for his poem "Poland". He later left university and enrolled at the Royal Hibernian Academy in Dublin, where he studied painting. Although he had originally planned to study law, Wills preferred the arts. He exhibited at the Royal Hibernian Academy in 1852, and the Royal Academy in London in 1874. His first novel was Old Times, for which he also drew and engraved the illustrations. A second novel, The Wife's Evidence, was made into a play with some success. Wills then opted for a bohemian lifestyle, staying at the Arundel Club, and later joined the Garrick Club. Many of his plays were based on historical events. Charles I, about the life of the English king, was one of his greatest successes, running for 200 nights at the Lyceum in 1872-3. Other historical dramas include Mary Queen of Scots and England in the Days of Charles II. These plays have been much criticised for their freedom from historical fact. His biography, "W. G. Wills: Dramatist and Painter", was written by his brother Freeman Wills in 1898. James Joyce alludes to him and his play A Royal Divorce (about the divorce of Napoleon and Josephine) on numerous occasions in Finnegans Wake.

    Setdart Auction House
  • William Wills, British (1880-1910), Lake Landscape, oil on board, 10 x 16 in. (25.5 x 40.5 cm)
    Jun. 26, 2020

    William Wills, British (1880-1910), Lake Landscape, oil on board, 10 x 16 in. (25.5 x 40.5 cm)

    Est: $250 - $350

    William Wills British (1880-1910) lake landscape oil on board signed and dated lower left William Wills 1922 10 x 16 in. (25.5 x 40.5 cm)

    Maynards Fine Art & Antiques
  • William Wills, British (1880-1910), Lake Landscape, oil on board, 10 x 16 in. (25.5 x 40.5 cm)
    Apr. 24, 2020

    William Wills, British (1880-1910), Lake Landscape, oil on board, 10 x 16 in. (25.5 x 40.5 cm)

    Est: $300 - $500

    signed and dated lower left William Wills 1922

    Maynards Fine Art & Antiques
  • WILLIAM WILLS (BRITISH FL. 1880-1910) THE LONELY LOCH 51cm x 76cm (20in x 30in)
    Jul. 17, 2019

    WILLIAM WILLS (BRITISH FL. 1880-1910) THE LONELY LOCH 51cm x 76cm (20in x 30in)

    Est: £300 - £500

    WILLIAM WILLS (BRITISH FL. 1880-1910) THE LONELY LOCH Signed and dated 1909, oil on canvas 51cm x 76cm (20in x 30in)

    Lyon & Turnbull
  • W. G. WILLS (British, 1828-1891) Windsor Park 1853 oil on canvas
    Dec. 01, 2015

    W. G. WILLS (British, 1828-1891) Windsor Park 1853 oil on canvas

    Est: $4,000 - $6,000

    W. G. WILLS (British, 1828-1891) Windsor Park 1853 oil on canvas signed and dated lower right: Wills 1853 stamped verso: prepared by/Charles and Roberson/51 Long Acre, London 61 x 91cm PROVENANCE: Private collection, Melbourne Thence by descent

    Leonard Joel
  • WILLIAM GORMAN WILLS (British, 1828-1891) Windsor Park 1853 oil on canvas
    Jun. 23, 2015

    WILLIAM GORMAN WILLS (British, 1828-1891) Windsor Park 1853 oil on canvas

    Est: $5,000 - $8,000

    WILLIAM GORMAN WILLS (British, 1828-1891) Windsor Park 1853 oil on canvas signed and dated lower right: Wills 1853 stamped verso: prepared by/Charles and Roberson/51 Long Acre, London 61 x 91cm PROVENANCE: Private collection, Melbourne Thence by descent

    Leonard Joel
  • Painting, Attributed to William Gorman Wills
    Apr. 13, 2014

    Painting, Attributed to William Gorman Wills

    Est: $800 - $1,200

    Attributed to William Gorman Wills (British, 1828-1891), Tending the Hay in the Late Afternoon, 1891, oil on canvas, bears signature and dated lower left, canvas: 12"h x 20"w, overall (with frame): 16.25"h x 24.25"w

    Clars Auctions
  • WILLIAM WILLS (British, 1828-1891) The Goose Woman
    Jul. 25, 2009

    WILLIAM WILLS (British, 1828-1891) The Goose Woman

    Est: £5,000 - £7,000

    WILLIAM WILLS (British, 1828-1891) The Goose Woman oil on canvas, signed35cm x 49cm

    McTear's
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