Henry Williams

Henry Williams was an artist documented as active from 1780 to 1813, working primarily in portraiture during the transitional period spanning the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. While records indicate the presence of at least one print attributed to the artist held in collections, Williams is best known for a series of identified portrait studies.

The artist’s surviving documented oeuvre focuses on specific sitters of the period, including John Cox and his wife, Mrs. John Cox (Mrs. Thankful Harris Gore), as well as Edward Coverly and the portrait Mrs. Ichabod M. Cushman (nee Nancy Blymer). The practice of Henry Williams prints and portraits is represented in significant institutional holdings, establishing the artist’s legacy.

Works by Williams are preserved in major American museums, notably the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Art Institute of Chicago. The enduring representation of the artist in these institutions provides documentation of his career. Today, the recognized historical importance of these museum-quality works ensures that many portraits and related documents are available in the public domain.