The Life and Travels of William Sheppard

William Sheppard was an English portrait painter whose life followed a path through many European cities. He first appeared in the records of London in February 1641, identified then as a "Picture maker." His early years were marked by a steady movement across the continent. In July 1647, he spent a year in The Hague in the Netherlands, where he rented a room for his work.

The years that followed saw him moving through the heart of Europe. From 1649, he was active in Rome and Venice. His travels took him further east as he moved from Venice toward Constantinople in 1651. While his exact whereabouts during the middle of the 1650s remain a mystery, his presence in these major cultural centers suggests a life spent in constant motion.

When the Restoration arrived, William Sheppard returned to London. He lived near the Royal Exchange, staying close to the center of the city's commercial life. Eventually, he left the bustle of the capital behind to live in Yorkshire, where he spent his later years.

Key Works and Portraiture

Sheppard’s brushwork is most clearly seen in his engagement with the circles of the English court, particularly through his depictions of Thomas Killigrew. In 1650, while in Venice, Sheppard painted a three-quarter-length portrait of the playwright. The composition captures Killigrew seated and turning his head toward the viewer, resting his head upon his left hand. It is a quiet, thoughtful image that includes a small, telling detail: an oval portrait of King Charles I hangs on the wall behind him, a subtle nod to the sitter's loyalty to the deposed monarch.

Because of the importance of this subject, several versions of the portrait exist today, scattered across different collections. One version can be found in the National Portrait Gallery in London. Other iterations of this work have moved through the hands of notable collectors, with one entering the collection of the Duke of Bedford at Woburn Abbey and another finding its place in the collection of the Earl of Kimberley.