James Legge Willis (1761–1817), Holding a Map of Bambouk

Image credit: National Trust Images

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The sitter is James Willis, Consul-General of Senegambia. He is examining a map inscribed 'BAMBOUK' and signed 'J. RENNEL / 1798'. He is dressed in a white powdered wig tied with a black silk ribbon, a scarlet cloak with gold frogging, a white stock, and cream breeches. His papers on the table are inscribed 'COMMUNICATIONS / MR LEDYARD'S AND AFRICAN GEOGRAPHY'. In the shadowy background, instead of a standard English parkscape, is a bit of African forest with a lion nonchalantly on the prowl. The portrait was actually painted in London.

Willis was the third son of Richard Willis (1724–1780) and Bethia Legge (1734–1778). In 1795 he married Flora Wynch (1776–1842) and their daughter, Rhoda Susan Willis (1809–1873), was the second wife of Sir Athur Hallam Elton (1818–1883), 7th Baronet and MP.

National Trust, Clevedon Court

Clevedon

Title

James Legge Willis (1761–1817), Holding a Map of Bambouk

Date

c.1798

Medium

oil on canvas

Measurements

H 127 x W 101.5 cm

Accession number

624180

Acquisition method

bequeathed by Colonel Richard Ffolliot Willis to the National Trust; transferred to Clevedon Court, 1984

Work type

Painting

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Tickenham Road, Clevedon, Somerset BS21 6QU England

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