Artwork
Revd. John Parker of Sweeney
Revd. John Parker of Sweeney is an oil painting by the British Romanticist artist Margaret Gillies. It dates from 1830 and is held in the collection of the National Library of Wales.
About this work
Overview
Margaret Gillies painted an oil portrait of the Reverend John Parker of Sweeney in 1830. The work is part of the collection of the National Library of Wales and presents the clergyman in a formal pose.
Subject & Meaning
The sitter is shown wearing a black clerical robe, white collar, and a red sash draped over his left shoulder, holding a black hat in his right hand. The attire and the dark interior with a stone wall and arched windows suggest a religious or ecclesiastical setting, emphasizing his clerical status.
Technique & Style
Gillies employed oil on canvas with careful attention to detail, rendering the subject’s short, curly grey hair and the textures of fabric and stone. The subdued palette and chiaroscuro lighting create a solemn atmosphere typical of early‑19th‑century portraiture.
History & Provenance
Created in 1830, the portrait has remained in institutional care, currently housed by the National Library of Wales. Its provenance traces directly to the artist’s output during a period when she was active in portrait commissions.
Artist & collection
Reverend Thomas Thirlwall of Bowers Gifford (1764–1827)
Revd.John Hughes, 1787-1860
Sir Brenton Halliburton.
Rev Thomas Thirlwall of Bowers Gifford
Bishop Burgess
Arthur Jones, Congregationalist minister, Bangor 1776-1860
The Reverend Philip Cocks (1735–1797)
Charles Carroll of Carrollton
Edward Owen AM (died 1807)
Rev Matthew Worthington (1732-1797)
Joseph Planta (1744–1827), Principal Librarian (1799–1827)
Rev. John Davies