Artwork
Reverend J R Kilsby Jones 1813-89
Reverend J R Kilsby Jones 1813-89 is an oil painting by the British Romanticist artist William Williams. It dates from 1800 and is held in the collection of the National Library of Wales.
About this work
The painting depicts a man with a long white beard, wearing a dark coat and vest, standing in front of a dark background.
The painting depicts a man with a long white beard, wearing a dark coat and vest, standing in front of a dark background. He holds a cane in his right hand and rests his left hand on the back of a chair.
The man's attire and the style of the painting suggest that it is from the 19th century. The artist has used oil paint to create a realistic portrait of the subject.
To learn more about the artist who created this portrait, look up the work of William Williams.
Overview
William Williams painted an oil portrait in 1800 that portrays the Welsh clergyman James Rhys Jones, known as Reverend J R Kilsby Jones (1813–1889). The work is part of the collection of the National Library of Wales and exemplifies early‑nineteenth‑century portraiture.
Subject & Meaning
The sitter appears as a dignified figure with a long white beard, dressed in a dark coat and vest. He holds a cane in his right hand while his left hand rests on the back of a chair, suggesting a composed, scholarly bearing appropriate to his clerical status.
Technique & Style
Executed in oil on canvas, the portrait employs a restrained palette and careful modelling to achieve a realistic likeness. The dark, unadorned background isolates the figure, allowing subtle tonal variations in the clothing and facial features to dominate the visual impact.
History & Provenance
Since its creation, the painting has remained in Wales, ultimately entering the holdings of the National Library of Wales, where it is catalogued as part of the institution’s portrait collection.
Context
Williams worked during a period when Welsh religious leaders were frequently commemorated in portraiture, reflecting both personal prestige and the broader cultural emphasis on the clergy’s role in 19th‑century Welsh society.
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…
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