Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Sheppard, William (fl.1650-1660)

610891Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900, Volume 52 — Sheppard, William (fl.1650-1660)1897Lionel Henry Cust

SHEPPARD, WILLIAM (fl. 1650–1660), portrait-painter, was an artist of some merit, who appears to have followed the fortunes of Thomas Killigrew (1612–1683) [q. v.], the poet and dramatist, for there are numerous versions of a portrait of Killigrew, which is stated to have been painted by Sheppard in 1650 at Venice. One of these is in the possession of the Duke of Bedford at Woburn Abbey; another is in that of the Earl of Kimberley. This portrait was finely engraved by William Faithorne the elder [q. v.] Sheppard appears to have returned to London at the Restoration, and to have lived near the Royal Exchange. It is stated that he eventually retired to live in Yorkshire. The artist, Francis Barlow [q. v.], was his pupil.

[Redgrave's Dict. of Artists; Walpole's Anecdotes of Painting, ed. Wornum; Fagan's Catalogue of Faithorne's Engravings.]

L. C.