A Prodigy of the Portrait The story of Willem Wissing is one of meteoric rise and tragic brevity, a narrative that mirrors the fleeting brilliance of his own life. Born in either Amsterdam or The Hague, this Dutch master emerged from a rigorous training ground under the guidance of Willem Doudijns and Arnoldus van Ravancstyn. His journey took him from the artistic hubs of the Netherlands to the heart of England in 1676, a move that would forever alter the landscape of British portraiture. In London, Wissing found himself immersed in the prestigious studio of Sir Peter Lely, serving as an ass…