Wellings, William

While an advertisement, placed in October 1792, showed WILLIAM WELLINGS (1766-1796) worked in Covent Garden for fourteen years with signed and dated works recorded from 1781 to 1794, further background information was unknown.

 

However, recent research discovered he was the son of Edward Wellings (1734-1780), a Shropshire-born millwright. Also sourced was an obituary for 'Mr WILLIAM WELLINGS-MINIATURE PAINTER at MARGATE' in THE MONTHLY MIRROR of November 1796. Burial records give his age as ‘30 years’, indicating, perhaps surprisingly, that his profilist career began at the age of 13.  

 

Greatly prized by collectors, Wellings’ conversation pieces and full-length works have a distinctive style, as have his portrait miniatures which, above the usual size, are painted on paper with sitters’ features always drawn with an economy of line. A small number of unsigned bust size profiles are also recorded.

 

Wellings also offered ‘Theatrical Portraits…’ of popular actors in any character, some of which he engraved and published. Two theatrical portraits were exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1793. Likely taught engraving by Swiss emigré and topographical artist Samuel H Grimm (1733-1794), both men executed works for their landlady Susanna Sledge (1726- 1794). No Wellings signed or dated full-length or conversation pieces are recorded prior to 1781, and virtually all sold at auction in the last 40 years were painted between 1781-87. Curiously, a sizable number of full-length works are of named naval officers. Records show the year each were painted corresponds to either a promotion, captaincy of a ship, marriage or combination thereof.

 

2022 research discovered Susanna Sledge painted profiles herself from 1774. Entering into a working partnership with Wellings sometime in the 1780s  producing profiles in tandem, it may be that unsigned full length works formerly attributed to Wellings, which can be inferior in execution to signed works, are in fact by Susanna Sledge. An extremely rare Sledge trade labelled, full-length study was assessed by McKechnie as painted in the style of Wellings, but "...inferior to his authenticated work".

 

Comparing like for like, unsigned full-length works, while superficially similar, are painted with a more hurried hand. In particular, the overall rendition of wigs is more cursory. Wellings' signed works show more attention to detail. Wig hair in particular is carefully delineated, with wig curls represented by neatly painted thin parallel lines.

 

The theory that unsigned full-length works were by Sledge is further strengthened by an advertisement in the WORLD of the 11th of August 1788. It states "SLEDGE & WELLINGS...[of] the Original Shop No.1 Henrietta Street...[offer]...likenesses in their well-known and approved manner...in whole or half-length. Coloured or black, shaded or plain...". The advertisement indicates they developed a working partnership sometime in the 1780s, and seemingly painted in a similar style.

 

Wellings first worked at Susanna Sledge's "Original Shop" at 1 Henrietta Street between 1778- ca.1790. For whatever reason, he moved a few doors further east and placed his sole advertisement in the WORLD from 3 Tavistock Row, Covent Garden in October 1792. Then recorded a ratepayer at 26 Henrietta Street  until 1794, he published several prints of his own etched bust-sized compositions of actors and royalty from that address.

 

Wellings and Susanna Sledge also advertised theatrical portraits of actors of "either theatre...finished in any character...". However, with the demolition of the THEATRE ROYAL DRURY LANE in 1791 and the THEATRE ROYAL COVENT GARDEN closed for rebuilding in 1792, there must have been a sizable drop in custom, as very few works printed or painted are dated from that time.

 

The nationwide economic slump of 1793-1794, coupled with the theatre closures probably crippled Wellings' career. A print of George the Third, engraved by Wellings and thought to be his last work, was published in February 1796 by a "W. Smith". However, the work was likely executed by Wellings at an earlier date, since he disappeared as a ratepayer in Henrietta Street and from records as a whole, after 1794.

 

Whether he removed to the coastal resort of Margate for his health (a pioneering consumptives' hospital opened there in the spring of 1796), or whether he was attempting to revive his career, is unknown. Whatever the circumstances, his obituary is recorded in the MONTHLY MIRROR of November 1796, and the burial register of St.John's records his interment on the 15th of October aged "30 years".

 

Revised 23 November 2022 (Brian Wellings)