Wigs on the Green has dated this piece to the 18th Century.
Born in Leamington Hastings in 1726, William’s mother was a Welsh heiress and his father a Baronet so he would have enjoyed a privileged upbringing. William married Lucy Knightley in 1752. Lucy was independently wealthy having been the sole heiress of her father Giles Knightley of Woodford who died when she was just eleven years old. Despite their wealth, the pair appear down to earth and are sober in their dress. Sir William and Lucy had a large family together but only one son and one daughter survived into adulthood.
Lucy died at Bath in 1791 having presumably travelled there to benefit from the spa waters. Sadly their only son died a few years later in 1798 so when Sir William died the following year, aged 72, his fortune passed to his married daughter and the Baronetcy to his younger brother, the Rev. Charles Wheler. Within months their extensive Warwickshire estates were put up for sale by auction.
Painted by Samuel Cotes, these portraits are early examples of his work and are typical of his use of rich colours and careful attention to detail. Cotes trained initially as an apothecary under his father but then opted to follow his older brother’s example by becoming a professional artist. He exhibited portrait miniatures from 1760. Cotes enjoyed a long career and was in his 85th year when he died at his London home in March 1818.
Both portraits are in fine condition with good colours. The male portrait is signed ‘S. Cotes / 1764’. They are housed in matching gilt metal frames.
Provenance: By family descent
Ivory Exemption Ref.: VZFEDWD9
Wigs on the Green has dated this piece to the 18th Century.
Small portraiture of character & historical interest
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Pair of Named Portraits by Samuel Cotes Dated 1764
