Willem Wissing

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Willem Wissing, also known as William Wissing (1656, Amsterdam - 10 Sep 1687 Burghley House), was a Dutch portrait artist. He studied at The Hague under Willem Doudijns (1630-97) and Arnoldus van Ravestyn (1615-90). In 1676, he moved to England, where he studied with and assisted Peter Lely. After Lely's death in 1680, Wissing emerged as his most important pupil. Godfrey Kneller was the only contemporary portrait artist in England to rival Wissing. Wissing’s royal sitters include Charles II of England, Queen Catharine of Braganza, Prince George of Denmark and James Scott, 1st Duke of Monmouth.

In 1685, James II of England sent Wssing to the Netherlands to paint portraits of his Dutch son-in-law and daughter, the future William III of England and the future Mary II of England. Wissing died in 1687 and was buried in the Stamford, Lincolnshire church.

[edit] References

• Millar, Sir Oliver and Margaret Whinney, Oxford History of English Art 1625-1714, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 1957, 177.