Identity:

William Breakspeare was a London genre painter and illustrator.

Life:

William Breakspeare trained at the Birmingham School of Art, and later in Paris. His subjects were mainly genre, or 18th century costume pieces. He was a member of the Newlyn School of painters in Cornwall but is better known a Birmingham artist, and was a founder member of the Birmingham Art Circle. He exhibited at the Royal Academy between 1891 and 1903.

Bibliography:

Bénézit, E., Dictionnaire des Peintres, Sculpteurs, Dessinateurs et Graveurs, 8 vols, Paris, 1956-61; www.artmagick.com/artists (accessed 2004); Wood, C The Dictionary of Victorian Painters 2nd ed. revised, Woodbridge, 1978.