Object Description
T. Willis: a mixed media ship’s portrait of ‘Eudora’ of New York, 1900. This oil and silk/velvet collage on canvas shows a three-masted ship in full sail, inscribed, signed and dated, ‘T.Willis, N.Y. 1900’. The reverse has the paper labels of the artist and the Paul Mason Gallery, London. In the original bird’s eye maple frame with a gilt slip. American.
Thomas Willis (1850-1917 or 1925) was renowned for his unusual ship’s portraits with silk and velvet applications. The quality of works from his studio varies because some were created by apprentices. The present example is of the best quality and bears his signature so is undoubtedly the work of his own hand.