William Owen
(1769-1825), PainterArtist associated with 97 portraits
Shropshire-born William Owen moved to London in 1786 and was apprenticed for seven years to the coach-painter Charles Catton. He was encouraged by Sir Joshua Reynolds to enter the Royal Academy Schools, which he did in 1791. His first work was exhibited at the Royal Academy in the following year and he continued to exhibit every nearly year until his death. Owen's work comprised mainly portraits and he built up a distinguished list of sitters including William Pitt, Lord Grenville and Sir John Soane. In 1810, Owen was appointed portrait painter to the Prince of Wales; the prince promised to sit for Owen but never did.
Alexander Wedderburn, 1st Earl of Rosslyn (Lord Loughborough)
by William Owen
oil on canvas, circa 1798
NPG 392
by William Owen
oil on canvas, circa 1801
NPG 1655
by George Perfect Harding, after William Owen
watercolour and bodycolour, before 1822, based on a work of 1811
NPG 2418
by William Owen
oil on canvas, circa 1812
NPG 355
Folliott Herbert Walker Cornewall
by William Owen
oil on bevelled oak panel, 1813
NPG 5324
William Wentworth Fitzwilliam, 2nd Earl Fitzwilliam
by William Owen
oil on canvas, exhibited 1817
NPG 4979
Charles Abbott, 1st Baron Tenterden
by John Hollins, after William Owen
oil on canvas, 1850, based on a work exhibited in 1819
NPG 481
by William Owen
oil on canvas, circa 1823-1825
NPG 1552
by James Ward, after William Owen
mezzotint, 1794 or after
NPG D37194
by James Ward, after William Owen
mezzotint, 1794 or after
NPG D3544
by Charles Brome, after William Owen
line engraving, published 1799
NPG D16448
by William Say, after William Owen
mezzotint, early 19th century (probably exhibited 1809)
NPG D39538
Cropley Ashley-Cooper, 6th Earl of Shaftesbury
by Thomas Hodgetts, after William Owen
mezzotint, early 19th century
NPG D40660
by Samuel William Reynolds, after William Owen
mezzotint, early 19th century
NPG D41992
by William Say, after William Owen
mezzotint, early 19th century (probably exhibited 1809)
NPG D3804
by Henry Bone, after William Owen
pencil drawing squared in ink for transfer, September 1802 (circa 1800-1802)
NPG D17313
by James Ward, after William Owen
mezzotint, 1802 or after
NPG D37195
Mrs Wilson and Susan Sibbald (née Mein)
by Henry Bone, after William Owen
pencil drawing squared in ink for transfer, September 1803 (exhibited 1802)
NPG D17295
by Henry Bone, after William Owen
pencil drawing squared in ink for transfer, August 1804 (exhibited 1804)
NPG D17297
by James Godby, after William Owen
stipple engraving printed in colours, published 1804
NPG D16446
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Dr Barry Hoffbrand
26 February 2016, 19:31
The portrait of Sir Lionel Darell Bt (c 1804) in the Library and Museum of Freemasonry attributed to John Hoppner (In Art UK) is almost certainly by William Owen RA as recorded in the minutes of the Somerset House Lodge as it then was in 1803-6