VERELST, William - b. ~1704 London, d. ~1756 London

William (Willem) Verelst, Dutch painter, active in London, part of a family of painters, nephew of Maria Verelst. His major work is perhaps the Georgia Council of 1734-55 (Dupont Museum, Wintherthur), but Verelst also produced a number of small-scale portraits and conversation pieces, including the fine Gough Family (1741; Elvetham Hall, Hants). His life-size portraits are usually distinguished by solid characterization and dramatic lighting, as in John, 9th Earl of Rothes (1732; Leslie House, Fife) and Mrs Bamber (1743; Hatfield House, Herts).

Verelst also produced attractive three-quarter-length portraits of young women, for example Kitty Clive (1740; London, Garrick Club).