English Artist: Alyn Mattieu Williams

"The Father of the Novices", an Early Twentieth
Century Franciscan Novice Master

English
dated 1907
by Alyn Mattieu Williams (1865-1941)
(signed obverse, lower left "Alyn Williams, PRMS / 1907")

4 x 6 inches

watercolor on ivory; currently unframed

Williams exhibited this miniature portrait at the 1910 annual exhibition of the Royal Society of Miniature Painters (it was listed as No. 156 in that year's exhibition catalog), held from July 6, 1910 in London. In the same 1910 exhibition, Williams also exhibited a portrait he painted of U. S. President William H. Taft (No. 215 in the catalog).

Reverse of the portrait, inscribed by Williams as follows: "The Father of the Novices 10-10-0 [?] / Alyn Williams [illegible], PRMS / Barracks Studio / Plumpton / Sussex". Click (+) to see a larger image.

About the Portrait: Alyn Williams is perhaps best known for his portraits of starlets and beautiful aristocratic ladies, but his portrait of a Franciscan Novice Master exemplifies his mastery of the miniature art form. Painted in 1907 and titled "Father of the Novices", this brilliant portrait depicts the head of an order of Franciscan friars. His identity is not currently known, but he is believed to have been a member of the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin that, from 1861 until 1980, maintained a friary in Crowley, West Sussex, a short 22 miles from Williams' country cottage and studio, located in Plumpton, Sussex.

Williams' genius as a painter is underscored when viewing a closeup of the senior friar's face. Layered brush strokes impart extraordinary detail that isn't diminished even under great magnification -- all the more an achievement when one considers that the distance from the top of his head to the bottom of his chin is a mere two inches.

Other portraits in the Tormey-Holder Collection by Alyn Williams
(click photo for larger view and additional information):

Miss Rachel Estelle Berridge (1871-1952),
Who Later Became Countess of Clonmell