William Gorman Wills Paintings

William Gorman Wills was an Irish dramatist, novelist, and painter, born in the year 1828 in Kilmarnock, Dublin, Ireland. He was a multifaceted artist, best known for his career in London as a playwright, though he began his professional life as a painter. His artistic endeavors began under the tutelage of his father, James Wills, who was also a writer, and his mother, a well-regarded artist. Wills initially pursued painting and achieved some success, exhibiting at the Royal Academy and elsewhere.

His transition from painting to writing did not diminish his reputation; in fact, it expanded it. Wills wrote numerous plays and was especially recognized for his historical dramas. His most famous work is arguably 'Charles I', which was an immediate success and solidified his position as a significant Victorian playwright. The play's popularity was such that it was even performed before Queen Victoria herself. Wills had a knack for combining theatrically effective scenes with historical detail, which made his works appealing both to the public and to critics.

Despite his success in the theater, Wills faced personal difficulties, including bouts of mental instability, which affected his later life and work. His health declined in the 1880s, and he was less active in the theater as a result. William Gorman Wills passed away in 1891, leaving behind a legacy of plays and paintings that reflected his diverse talents and his capacity to capture the Victorian public's imagination.