Thomas Willis
Thomas Willis listed as having been born in Connecticut, there is ample evidence that he was born in Denmark and emigrated to CT as a young man. There are pervasive rumors that he lived and worked in New York City as a silk importer or a manufacturer of embroidery thread, which lead to his unique art form; however, his style and technique was fully developed while still living in Europe. Rumors aside, it is well documented that he worked prolifically creating portraits of yachts and steamers on commission for members of the American, New York and Corinthian Yacht Clubs, as well as others. His earliest work tended to be on plain colored silk backgrounds; soon his work featured oil painting on canvas backgrounds, thought to originally have been done for him by friends such as the renowned marine artist Antonio Jacobsen (who shared many of the same clients). It is believed that these artists taught Willis how to paint for himself, eventually becoming quite adept. As such, the painted backgrounds on Willis' work can vary from the still somewhat amateurish to the frankly sublime. He was, however, the only artist working in this unique medium and style, and his art is unmistakable and irrefutable.
1880s American Folk Art Antique Thomas Willis
Canvas, Silk
1890s American Late Victorian Antique Thomas Willis
Canvas, Silk
1830s European Antique Thomas Willis
Wood
1890s British Victorian Antique Thomas Willis
Glass, Wood, Paint
1880s French Renaissance Revival Antique Thomas Willis
Paper
Early 19th Century French Neoclassical Antique Thomas Willis
Paper
Mid-19th Century Indian Antique Thomas Willis
Paper
19th Century Folk Art Antique Thomas Willis
Canvas
2010s American Thomas Willis
Wood
19th Century European Victorian Antique Thomas Willis
Bronze
Mid-19th Century Chinese Chinoiserie Antique Thomas Willis
Paper
1950s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Thomas Willis
Glass, Wood
Early 20th Century American Thomas Willis
Plaster, Wool, Paper
Late 19th Century French Chinoiserie Antique Thomas Willis
Canvas, Paper
1890s American Late Victorian Antique Thomas Willis
Canvas, Silk
1890s American Folk Art Antique Thomas Willis
Canvas, Silk
1880s American Late Victorian Antique Thomas Willis
Canvas, Silk