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William Dobson

(1611-1646), Portrait painter

Sitter 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'.

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William Dobson, after a self-portrait by William Dobson - NPG 302

William Dobson

after a self-portrait by William Dobson
oil on canvas, circa 1646, based on a work of 1642-1646
NPG 302

William Dobson, by George White, after  William Dobson - NPG D28285

William Dobson

by George White, after William Dobson
mezzotint, (circa 1642-1646)
NPG D28285

William Dobson, by George White, after  William Dobson - NPG D28288

William Dobson

by George White, after William Dobson
mezzotint, (circa 1642-1646)
NPG D28288

William Dobson, by George White, after  William Dobson - NPG D1764

William Dobson

by George White, after William Dobson
mezzotint, (circa 1642-1646)
NPG D1764

William Dobson, by George White, after  William Dobson - NPG D1765

William Dobson

by George White, after William Dobson
mezzotint, (circa 1642-1646)
NPG D1765

William Dobson, by Josias English, after  William Dobson - NPG D35333

William Dobson

by Josias English, after William Dobson
etching, 1646-1649
NPG D35333

William Dobson, by Josias English, published by  Thomas Rowlett, after  William Dobson - NPG D2277

William Dobson

by Josias English, published by Thomas Rowlett, after William Dobson
etching, circa 1646-1649
NPG D2277

William Dobson, by John Girtin - NPG D28286

William Dobson

by John Girtin
etching, late 18th to early 19th century
NPG D28286

Web image not currently available

William Dobson

by George White, published by Samuel Sympson, after William Dobson
mezzotint, (circa 1642-1646)
NPG D20140

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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.

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.