Wilson Online Reference
Williams-Wynn
Name
Sir Watkin Williams-Wynn, 4th Bart, 1748-1789
Connection to Wilson
Patron
Biographical Details
Sir Watkins Williams-Wynn, a distant relative of Wilson through the artist's mother, Alice Wynne (of Leeswood), was one of the most significant Welsh art patrons of the period and the most important landowner in Denbighshire with 100,000 acres. He undertook the Grand Tour in 1768-69 at the age of 20, visiting France, Switzerland and Italy. In Rome he was painted by Batoni in a group with Thomas Apperley (1734-1819) and Captain Edward Hamilton (National Museum Wales, Cardiff (NMW A78)). On his return to Britain he commissioned Wilson to paint two large landscapes of his estates, to hang as a pair in his new residence at 20, St James's Square, London: P165 Dinas Bran from Llangollen I and P166 View near Wynnstay, the Seat of Sir Watkin Williams-Wynn, both Yale Center for British Art, Paul Mellon Collection. Sir Watkin was the leading North Welsh magnate in the capital and a prominent figure in the Welsh cultural revival. Together with Paul Sandby, he made one of the earliest picturesque tours of North Wales and in 1775 was elected to the Society of Dilettanti.

For his early years see Hernon 2013
Patronage of Works
P162A Cicero with his Friend Atticus and Brother Quintus at his Villa at Arpinum, Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide
P165 Dinas Bran from Llangollen I, Yale Center for British Art, Paul Mellon Collection
P166 View near Wynnstay, the Seat of Sir Watkin Williams-Wynn, Yale Center for British Art, Paul Mellon Collection
P170 Sandpit in a Glade (Landscape in the Villa Chigi, Ariccia), Private Collection, England
P171 A View in the Villa Chigi at Ariccia, Faringdon Collection Trust, Buscot Park, National Trust
Significant institutions
Cymmrodorion; Society of Dilettanti