Pastel, oval. 54.5cm by 43cm.
Signed l.l.: W.G. Wills/1871.
Isabella Whichcote (1857-1917), is portrayed here as a young girl.
The daughter of Sir Thomas Whichcote, 7th Bt. of Aswarby Park in Lincolnshire, she married Brownlow, 4th Marquess of Exeter (1849-1895), in 1875.
The Irish-born Wills, who was known mainly as a dramatist and novelist, began portrait painting in 1868.
He had considerable success, despite having had little training, but his career as a painter was limited by his disorganised approach and unreliability.
