William Elliott Elliott

This well-painted portrait is by the distinctive and confident hand of John Inigo Wright. It shows a self-assured and prosperous-looking gentleman named William Elliott Elliott of Gedling House in Nottingham. Elliott was born in 1763 and in 1792 married Fanny Francis. His wealth came primarily from his great uncle, also named William Elliott, who during the eighteenth century invented a fast black dye for silk hose. Elliott was a JP and then High Sherriff for Nottingham.

The portrait is housed in its original gold frame that is glazed reverse to show a lock of blonde hair secured with gold wire and seed pearls laid on foiled opalescent glass. It comes in a red leather travelling case (probably not original to it) with an accompanying note of the sitter’s details.

John Inigo Wright exhibited at the Royal Academy between 1795 and 1819; his miniatures are critically well acclaimed. He married twice and had a son by his first wife, Priscilla, (also a successful miniature painter) who likewise followed in the steps of his parents. The New Times (8 March 1820) reported Wright’s sudden death at his lodgings, 54 Old Bond Street –

“Saturday morning, about four o’clock, a noise was heard in the room where he slept; he was found in bed, but complained of having been restless all night. He did not get up; and at twelve o’clock he was found in his chamber, hanging by a cord from the tester of the bed. A surgeon was called in who attempted to bleed him, but without effect. Verdict: Lunacy”.

He was just 50 years of age so his death represented a tragic loss of talent.

APHA Registered