Artwork
Michael D. Jones
Michael D. Jones is an oil painting by the American Impressionist artist William Williams. It dates from 1890 and is held in the collection of the National Library of Wales.
About this work
This painting features a man with a long white beard and hair, dressed in a dark jacket. The background is a deep, rich black.
The subject's attire and hairstyle suggest a formal or professional setting, possibly from the late 19th century. The artist's use of oil paint adds depth and texture to the portrait.
For more information on the artist behind this work, look up William Williams.
Overview
Created in 1890, this oil portrait by the Welsh painter William Williams presents the figure of Michael D. Jones. Executed on canvas, the work measures the likeness of its namesake and is currently part of the collection of the National Library of Wales, where it is displayed among other historical documents and artworks.
Subject & Meaning
The sitter is rendered with a full white beard and flowing hair, clothed in a dark jacket that conveys a sense of formality appropriate to his public role in the late nineteenth century. The stark black backdrop isolates the figure, emphasizing his dignified bearing and underscoring the portrait’s focus on personal identity rather than narrative setting.
Technique & Style
Williams employed the oil medium to achieve a rich, layered surface, allowing subtle variations of tone across the subject’s facial features and clothing. The deep black background is applied with a smooth, almost matte finish, creating contrast that enhances the luminous quality of the white beard and the texture of the dark fabric.
History & Provenance
Since its completion, the painting has remained within Welsh institutional holdings, ultimately entering the National Library of Wales’s collection. Its preservation in a research library reflects the cultural importance of Michael D. Jones as a figure of Welsh history and the work’s value as a visual record of his appearance.
Artist & collection
Artist
British portrait painter who worked in oil during the late 1700s. His canvases usually show a single sitter in quiet poses, often dressed in dark coats and white collars. In our gallery you’ll find his Portrait of a…
Portrait of a Boy, Probably of the Crossfield Family
Mr John Thomas Edwards (c.1869–1943)
Reverend Herber Evans (1836–1896), DD
Margaret Hughes of Plas Bach, Bodorgan
John Roberts (1804–1884), Brother of Samuel Roberts of Llanbrynmair
Tri chedyrn Cymru
Reverend E. Herbert Evans of Carnarvon (1836–1896)
Reverend J. G. Morris of Newport, Pembrokeshire (1833–1919)
