Olivia Serres Paintings

Olivia Serres, also known as Olive, was an English painter, writer, and impostor. Born on March 3, 1772, in Warwick, she was the daughter of Robert Wilmot, a house painter. Despite her later claims of noble birth, her early life was relatively humble. Serres showed an early talent for art and was encouraged in her pursuits by her uncle, James Wilmot, a scholar and clergyman. She received some instruction from the renowned painter John Raphael Smith, and her artistic skill earned her some recognition in her own right.

Serres' early works were mainly floral pieces and landscapes, but as her career progressed, she delved into historical and literary themes. In 1791, she married John Thomas Serres, the Marine Painter to King George III, and the couple had two daughters. Her marriage brought her into the London art world, and she exhibited at the Royal Academy from 1805 to 1807. However, her relationship with her husband was difficult, and the couple eventually separated.

Beyond her art, Olivia Serres is perhaps best known for an extraordinary claim she made later in life. In 1817, she started to assert that she was the illegitimate daughter of the Duke of Cumberland, Prince Henry Frederick, who was the brother of King George III. She claimed her real name was Princess Olive of Cumberland and that she had a right to a royal title and estates. Her attempts to establish her claims in court failed, and she was widely discredited. Despite the lack of evidence to support her assertions, she continued to insist on her royal lineage until her death.

Serres' life was filled with financial difficulties, exacerbated by her legal battles over her supposed inheritance. She was imprisoned for debt several times and even published pamphlets on her genealogical claims in an attempt to garner public support and raise money. Unfortunately, her efforts were in vain, and she remained in a state of financial disarray until her death in London on November 21, 1834. Although her claims of nobility were never substantiated, Olivia Serres remains a fascinating figure for her artistic contributions and her audacious foray into the world of aristocratic pretension.