Lot 173: PORTRAIT OF GEORGE WALLIS OF HULL (1731-1803)

A coloured mezzotint of George Wallis engraved by I.R. Smith in 1804 after the watercolour by John Harrison, framed and glazed Approx. 131/2in. (34.3cm.) x 91/4in. (23.5cm.) George Wallis, "Celebrated Antiquary & Gunsmith", established a museum at his Mytongate premises by 1794, displaying not only weapons but also 'medals, coins, ores, petrefactions etc.'. The Weapons included the Brunswick all-steel wheel-lock pistol shown in the portrait, and a sixteenth-century hunting sword which belonged to King Henry VIII. Wallis is also well-known for the work he carried out for William Constable of Burton Constable Hall LITERATURE For further information see W. Keith Neal and D.H.L. Back, Great British Gunmakers 1740-1790, pp. 89, 94, plates 261-279; A.G. Credland, 'Wallis of Hull', J.A.A.S., vol. IX, no.4 (December 1978), pp. 133-181.