Born at Llansannan, Denbighshire, Henry Rees worked on a farm before being licensed as a preacher in 1820. He moved to Shrewsbury to learn bookbinding, while becoming known as a preacher throughout Wales. In 1827 he was ordained a minister and moved to work in Liverpool in 1836. Recognised as the leading Calvinistic Methodist of his day, he opposed the Education Bill of 1843, and wrote for ‘Y Traethodydd’ and other Welsh periodicals. A label on the back of this portrait states that it was ‘painted for Mr Price of Liverpool in 1847 by W Daniels 1813–1880’. Daniels, a leading Liverpool artist, painted many of the city’s important figures and celebrities, such as the actor Charles Kean and the engineer George Stephenson. The lively face and sparkling eyes in this portrait reflect the intellect of the sitter and the skill of the artist, who was known as the ‘Liverpool Rembrandt’ for his Dutch-influenced style.