Mid 19th Century Oil - Portrait of William Stevens

Description

A fine Victorian portrait in oil, of the eminent religious author, William Stevens. The painting shows the sitter deep in though, head resting on his hand, while he reads a book. The painting is unsigned and presented in a 20th Century gilt frame with beaded strap work. There is a Newman's canvas stamp at the reverse dating this c.1850-60. There is also a label with the sitter's name and dates. On canvas.

Condition

The condition is typical for a picture of this age including some discolouration to the varnish. There is some craquelure to the surface.

Size

29 x 18.5cm (11.4" x 7.3")
Framed Size: 39.3 x 28.7cm (15.5" x 11.3")

Collection Information

William Stevens (2 March 1732 – 7 February 1807) was an English hosier and lay writer on religious topics from a High Church perspective, the biographer and editor of the works of William Jones of Nayland.
Born in the parish of St. Saviour's, Southwark, he was son of a tradesman. His mother was sister of the Rev. Samuel Horne of Otham, Kent. He was educated at Maidstone with his cousin, George Horne, later bishop of Norwich. In August 1746 he was apprenticed to a hosier in Old Broad Street named Hookham.
Stevens acted for many years as treasurer of Queen Anne's Bounty, supported the work of the church societies, and interested himself in the position of the episcopal church in Scotland. Stevens died at his house in Old Broad Street, and was buried in Otham churchyard. He left the bulk of his property to his cousin, William Horne, the rector of Otham.
Stevens acquired a good knowledge of French, Hebrew, and the classics. His main interest was theology. He maintained a correspondence with Bishop George Horne, and suggested the plan which Horne later used in his Letters on Infidelity, which were dedicated to Stevens. On Horne's death, Stevens published three volumes of his sermons, and supplied William Jones of Nayland with materials for Jones' biography of Horne.
Stevens's final publication was his edition of William Jones's works published in 1801 in twelve octavo volumes. Prefixed to it was a life of Jones in the style of Izaak Walton (part of which had already appeared in the Anti-Jacobin Review). Daniel Wray described Stevens as "a tory of the old Filmer stamp".