William Dobson
(1611-1646), Portrait painterSitter in 9 portraits
Artist associated with 50 portraits
Born in London, Dobson was probably the son of a lawyer. He studied under the painter and publisher, William Peake, and the artist, Francis Cleyn, and probably through him came to know the paintings of Titian and van Dyck. Painter of the embattled Royalists, he was active during the Civil War both with the Royal Court in Oxford, and in London, as Principal Painter to the King. He returned to London after the defeat of the king by parliament and was briefly imprisoned for debt. He died in poverty aged thirty-five and was buried in St Martin-in-the-Fields. An elegy by Thomas Rawlins commemorated him as 'the very Soul of Art, the Prince and Prime of Painters'.
Sir George Lisle and Sir Charles Lucas
by George Vertue, after William Dobson, after Unknown artist
line engraving, early 18th century
NPG D27205
James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose
by François-Germain Aliamet, after William Dobson
line engraving, mid to late 18th century
NPG D27061
Richard Neville engraved as Sir Charles Lucas
after William Dobson
line engraving, mid 18th century
NPG D27196
by Thomas Chambers (Chambars), possibly after William Dobson
line engraving, mid to late 18th century
NPG D28323
James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose
by Jacobus Houbraken, published by John & Paul Knapton, after William Dobson
line engraving, published 1740
NPG D27058
James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose
by Jacobus Houbraken, published by John & Paul Knapton, after William Dobson
line engraving, published 1740
NPG D35472
James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose
by Jacobus Houbraken, published by John & Paul Knapton, after William Dobson
line engraving, published 1740
NPG D38926
James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose and James Stanley, 7th Earl of Derby
by George Vertue, published by Stephen Austen, after William Dobson, and after Sir Anthony van Dyck
line engraving, published 1746
NPG D27065
James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose
after William Dobson
etching and line engraving, circa 1750-1800
NPG D35471
James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose
after William Dobson
line engraving, 1757
NPG D27073
James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose; James Stanley, 7th Earl of Derby
by George Vertue, published by John Ryall, published by Robert Withy, after William Dobson, and after Sir Anthony van Dyck
etching and line engraving, published 1757
NPG D35473
Richard Neville engraved as Sir Charles Lucas
after William Dobson
line engraving, late 18th to early 19th century
NPG D27198
by James Caldwall (Caldwell), after a portrait attributed to William Dobson
line engraving, 1775
NPG D26819
by James Caldwall (Caldwell), after a portrait attributed to William Dobson
line engraving, 1775
NPG D9520
by James Caldwall (Caldwell), after a portrait attributed to William Dobson
line engraving, 1775
NPG D21002
Abraham van der Doort (inscribed 'Dobson's Father')
by Valentine Green, possibly after William Dobson, published by John Boydell
mezzotint, published 1776
NPG D28317
Abraham van der Doort (inscribed 'Dobson's Father')
by Valentine Green, possibly after William Dobson
mezzotint, published 1776
NPG D1644
Abraham van der Doort (inscribed 'Dobson's Father')
by Valentine Green, possibly after William Dobson
mezzotint, published 1776
NPG D1645
Abraham van der Doort (inscribed 'Dobson's Father')
by Valentine Green, possibly after William Dobson
mezzotint, published 1776
NPG D1646
by John Watts, after William Dobson
mezzotint, published 1778
NPG D3556
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Rosalinda Jones
13 March 2017, 19:41
Dobson's father was probably not a painter by profession, but a lawyer. He was admitted to the Inner Temple around 1592/3. The only known written mention of him is by John Aubrey, from whose words a likely misunderstanding over Dobson's occupation has arisen. Dobson worked for the Statue Office in Holborn until about 1611, when he moved to St Albans. He apparently also worked at the Alienation Office, but evidence for this is still being sought. He was employed by Sir Francis Bacon on the building of Verulam House at Gorhambury around this time, being called Bacon's 'right hand man'. From surviving receipts from Bacon's papers (sourced by Daphne du Maurier in her book on Bacon, "The Winding Stair" (1976)), he appears to have been a foreman, or some kind of legal advisor on the build, rather than a painter. If he was a painter, no evidence of this has been found.
Lynne Parry-Griffiths
17 May 2017, 13:20
Dobson's father also called William, died as 'a prisoner in the Fleet' 28 Aug 1625. This possibly contributes to the legend that Will Dobson himself was also prone to being 'irregular' and 'loose' in his way of living, given that he too was imprisoned (apparently for debt) before his untimely death.