Lot 97: Walter William Ouless, R.A. (1848-1933)

Portrait of George William Lovell, seated at his desk, three-quarter length
signed and dated 'W.W.Ouless 1875' (lower left)
oil on canvas
50 x 40 in. (127 x 111.5 cm.)

George William Lovell (1804-1878), was Senior Clerk of the Phoenix Insurance company 1842-52, Joint Secretary 1842-60, and Secretary from 1860-1868.

Lovell was also a novelist and playwright; his works including the critically acclaimed drama Love's Sacrifice (or The Rival Merchants) (1842) which the Times summarised as 'a very clever piece'; and The Wife's Secret (1846) which was staged at the Haymarket and starred Mr and Mrs Charles Kean - leading actors of their day. Re-runs of the play continued to draw audiences well into the 1880s.

We are grateful to Esther Mann at the Royal Sun Alliance archive for her help in preparing this catalogue entry.

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