Artwork
Michael Jones
Michael Jones is an oil painting by the American Folk Art artist William Williams. It dates from 1850 and is held in the collection of the National Library of Wales.
About this work
Overview
Created around the middle of the nineteenth century, this oil on canvas portrait presents Michael Jones as its sole figure. Executed by the Welsh artist William Williams, the work is part of the collection of the National Library of Wales, where it remains on view as a representative example of mid‑Victorian portraiture.
Subject & Meaning
The sitter, Michael Jones, appears in a formal pose, his dark hair and composed expression suggesting a respectable, perhaps professional, status. Dressed in a black coat complemented by a white cravat, he is isolated against a deep, muted background that draws attention to his face, emphasizing personal identity over narrative context.
Technique & Style
Williams employs chiaroscuro to model the features of the subject, using subtle gradations of light and shadow to give the face a three‑dimensional presence. The dark tonal ground enhances the contrast of the white cravat and the sheen of the coat, while the limited palette and restrained brushwork reflect the sober aesthetic typical of provincial portraiture of the era.
History & Provenance
The painting entered the holdings of the National Library of Wales, where it has been catalogued as part of the institution’s visual heritage collection. Its provenance traces back to the artist’s studio circa 1850, and it has remained in Wales, offering insight into regional artistic practice and the social networks of the period.
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)
