William Parry (artist)

Primarily a portrait painter, he attracted extensive patronage in Wales due to his connections with Sir Watkin Williams-Wynn, 4th Baronet.

He was the son of John Parry, a blind harpist who held a key position in the household of Sir Watkin Williams-Wynn, 3rd Baronet of Wynnstay, Denbighshire, the wealthiest and most powerful Welshman of the time.

Sir Watkin funded Parry's own Grand Tour in 1770–5, during which he produced full-scale copies of paintings by Raphael and Correggio.

In around 1775–6, he painted the Portrait of Omai with Sir Joseph Banks and Dr Daniel Solander, one of his most celebrated works.

In 1789 Parry returned to Italy, according to James Northcote, "to seek employment in art, in addition to the wish of stifling the regret for the loss of an amiable wife".