biography of Penry WILLIAMS (1798-1885)

Birth place: Boston, MA

Death place: Boston

Addresses: Boston, 1787-1830

Profession: Portrait & miniature painter, profile cutter, wax modeler, engraver

Work: Worcester Art Mus.

Comments: A versatile artist, he was also listed as an anatomist in the Boston directories in the 1920s. Most likely he was the Henry Williams, who published Elements of Drawing, in 1814. From c.1810-12 he seems to have been in partnership with miniature painter William M.S. Doyle, as works during this period are signed by both.

Sources: G&W; Bolton, Miniature Painters; Stauffer; Jackson, Silhouette, 153; Boston Independent Chronicle, 1808, cited by Dr. Clarence L. Brigham; Drepperd, American Drawing Books"; Swan, BA; Dunlap, History; WPA (Mass.), Portraits Found in N.H., 14, 20; Antiques (Oct. 1928), 325-26, repros.; Antiques (Aug. 1940), 54, repro.; Art in America (July 1940), 120, repro.; Strickler, American Portrait Miniatures, 115-16."