William Owen
(1769-1825), PainterArtist associated with 99 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.
by Charles Turner, after William Owen
mezzotint, published 1825
NPG D11038
George Granville Leveson-Gower, 1st Duke of Sutherland
by Charles Turner, after William Owen
mezzotint, published 1825
NPG D20095
by John Henry Robinson, published by Dawe & Gowar (Gower), after William Owen
stipple engraving, 1827-1850
NPG D36356
Edward Venables Vernon Harcourt
by and published by William James Ward, after William Owen
mezzotint, published September 1828 (1811)
NPG D35312
Edward Venables Vernon Harcourt
by and published by William James Ward, printed by Chatfield & Co, after William Owen
mezzotint, published September 1828 (1811)
NPG D35313
by William James Ward, published by Martin Colnaghi, after William Owen
mezzotint, published September 1829
NPG D39021
by Frederick Bromley, published by Henry Graves & Co, after William Owen, and after John Hayes
mezzotint, published 1 June 1842
NPG D40798
by Frederick Bromley, published by Henry Graves & Co, after William Owen, and after John Hayes
mezzotint, published 1 June 1842
NPG D40876
by John Porter, published by Colnaghi and Puckle, after William Owen
mezzotint, published 20 May 1843
NPG D40388
by John Porter, published by Colnaghi and Puckle, after William Owen
mezzotint, published 20 May 1843
NPG D3942
by Samuel William Reynolds, after William Owen
mezzotint, published 1844
NPG D714
by Samuel William Reynolds, after William Owen
mezzotint, published 1844
NPG D715
George Henry FitzRoy, 4th Duke of Grafton
by Samuel William Reynolds, published by Henry Graves, after William Owen
mezzotint, published 2 September 1844
NPG D14707
by Samuel William Reynolds, after William Owen
mezzotint, published 1854
NPG D37254
by William Say, after William Owen
mezzotint, early 19th century (probably exhibited 1809)
NPG D3805
by and published by Charles Turner, published by and after William Owen
mezzotint, published 14 February 1811, based on a work of 1810
NPG D49847
William Wyndham Grenville, 1st Baron Grenville
by John Samuel Agar, published by T. Cadell & W. Davies, after John Wright, after William Owen
stipple engraving, published 1 March 1815
NPG D19416
by and published by Samuel William Reynolds, after William Owen
mezzotint, published February 1818
NPG D19685
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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