(1757 - 1824), painter, s. of Richard Williams, goldsmith, of Dublin; Dublin Soc. Schools 1771; exh. SA Dublin 1777, 1780; RA Schools 1781; exh. RA 1791 - 2, 1796, 1803 - 4, 1806: BI 1807 - 8: SA Dublin 1809 - 1821; founder member Royal Hibernian Acad. 1823.
1782 - 86 - Bologna, Rome (by Dec. 1782), Florence (by Dec. 1784 - Jun. 1785), Bologna (by 6 Oct. 1785), Parma (by 4 Nov. 1785), Rome, Venice
Williams spent some six years in Italy, where he appears to have been active principally as a copyist. Such modest activity did not undermine his self-confidence. 'He seems to have a great deal of Enthusiasm,' Henry Quin wrote, 'apparently mingled with a degree of chagrin that the world don't think as highly of his works as himself'.1
He was probably the Mr Williams noticed in Rome in December 1782.2 He copied works by Raphael in the Vatican (Strickland) and the Callipygian Venus at the Farnesina (NGI). By December 1784 he was in Florence, where he stayed until June 1785. In the Uffizi he made two copies of Titian's Venus of Urbino and a study of the Venus de Medici.3 The three works were sent home from Florence, as a note in Williams sketchbook (NGI) explains, in a packing case also containing things belonging to a Mr Tom Blighe, who was to pay for one third of the expenses. By 6 October 1785 Williams was in Bologna, when he was elected to Honorary Membership of the Accademia Clementina.4 He made studies after Domenichino (Martyrdom of St Agnes), Guido Reni (St Paul comforting St Peter in Prison) and Guercino (Haagar and Ishmael and A Sybil's Head).5 The following month he was in Parma, where he accompanied Henry Quin and made for him a sketch of Correggio's famous Madonna and St Jerome. On 5 November 1785 Quin visited Williams's lodgings and saw his drawings of works copied at Bologna and Florence; he also commented that 'the young Gentleman almost told me in direct terms that he stood the highest in the rank of Connoisseurs in Rome'.5 He was possibly the 'Guilelmo Williams', English painter aged twenty-four in 1784, who was listed as living in the Strada Laurina in Rome 1784 - 6.6
Williams's sketchbook (NGI) gives a limited indication of his movements in Italy. It is inscribed 'Bologna' on the cover page; two drawings produced in Rome of a statue at the Farnesina are followed by drawings of bronze statues and antique sculpture at the 'Parma Academy' and some sketches made in Venice (one after Tintoretto). The next leaf is inscribed 'Dublin 1789'.
James Byres in Rome owned a portrait of Aubrey Beauclerk by 'Mr Williams', probably Solomon Williams.7
1. Quin jnl.MSS (5 Nov. 1785). 2. Ramsay jnl.MSS (24 Dec. 1782). 3. Borroni 1986:56; 1987:139, 141, 147. 4. Note by Dr S. Zamboni. 5. Quin jnl.MSS. 6. AVR sa, S.Maria del Popolo. 7. Byres MSS (Byres inv.1790).
N. F.