Large oil painting of King Edward VII, attributed to Willis

The painting depicts Edward VII, who was king of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 1901-1910. Edward VII adopts an authoritative pose, stood on a dais with one hand on his hip and the other holding the Sceptre. The Imperial State Crown and Orb are placed on the table on his right. The king wears a Field-Marsal’s uniform, with the sash and badge of the Royal Victorian Order and the Garter Star, and the royal mantle is draped over his shoulders. Edward VII looks directly out at the viewer in a confident and regal way.

This canvas is indistinctly signed ‘Willi…’, most likely for the early 20^th Century British artist Charles Willis. Willis is well-known for his portraits of the royal family which were selected for publication in commemorative editions of newspapers and magazines. This painting is based on a famous early 20^th Century State portrait of Edward VII by Sir Samuel Luke Fildes. The portrait was exhibited in the Royal Academy in 1902 and is today held in the Royal Collection Trust. In its style and scale, this work faithfully reproduces Fildes’ portrait. It is displayed in a giltwood frame which is carved with beading and foliate patterns.

Canvas: Height 234cm, width 160cm, depth 3cm
Frame: Height 260cm, width 187cm, depth 13cm