William Linley

The youngest of the Linleys, William (1771-1835) was painted by Lawrence as a family friend. This is a particularly sensitive example of the artist’s work: ‘so pleasing, and refined in the simplicity of nature, so true in colouring, that perhaps very few of his best later pictures can bear a comparison with it’ (Waagen). It was shown to George III to demonstrate Lawrence’s talent but the King did not react favourably: ‘Ah! Ah! Why doesn’t the blockhead have his hair cut?’

Although he had a good singing voice, William’s lack of application did not bode well for a future as a performer. After a career in India as a writer for the stage (without much success), he retired young. He was responsible for the bequest of the Linley portraits to Dulwich.

William Linley (1771-1835) was the youngest son of Thomas Linley the elder (see Gainsborough DPG14O). He joined the East India Company and was in India from 1790-5 and 1800-5. He retired from the company in 1810 and devoted himself to singing, composing and writing, and to a convivial social life. William Linley bequeathed his family portraits to Dulwich Picture Gallery. The artist Thomas Lawrence was a friend of the Linley family. Exhibited at the RA in 1789, DPG178 was presumably painted in that year or shortly before.