William Henry Pyne

Who was William Henry Pyne?

William Henry Pyne was an English writer, illustrator and painter. He trained at a drawing academy in London. He first exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1790. He specialized in picturesque settings including groups of people rendered in pen, ink and watercolour. Pyne was one of the founders of Royal Watercolour Society in 1804.

His book The Costume of Great Britain, including 60 paintings of professional and working-class men and women and scenes from everyday life, attracted the attention of the publisher Rudolph Ackermann, and Pyne was to engrave and write for many of his projects. Pyne's The History of the Royal Residences is a great illustrated book that depicts interior decorations and furnishings of Windsor Castle, St. James's Palace, Carlton House, Kensington Palace and Hampton Court, although it caused financial difficulties for him – he died as poor man in 1824.

Pyne’s watercolours are in major museum collections, such as the Royal Collection and the British Museum.