Stone House Beneath The Mountains

OLIVIA SERRES Also known as OLIVIA WILMOT (1772-1834)

Born in Warwick this remarkable lady was famous for more than just painting. In 1792 she married John T. Serres, the marine painter and son of the great Dominic Serres. After their marriage she proclaimed to the world she was the daughter of the Duke of Cumberland (Brother of George III). This was a matter that she took to law, calling herself Princess Olivia of Cumberland. Despite this being dismissed as the ravings of a lunatic, it does seem that the Royal Family took pity on her and it is said she was even bestowed the title of ‘Landscape painter to the Prince of Wales’.
She was a very talented painter, often showing a close similarity to the landscapes of Wilson and Gainsborough.
She exhibited at the Royal Academy & the British Institute.
She wrote volumes of poetry and novels.
Sadly she became informous for wild living and extravagance, which led to her husband’s bankruptcy and to her incarceration in a debtor’s prison until her death in 1834.
She was a very colourful character of the Regency period.

(Framed size)