Thomas H. Willis (1850-1925)
Born in Connecticut in 1850, the marine artist Thomas Willis worked for a silk embroidery threadmaker in 1870 in Brooklyn. He became one of the finest American marine embroiderers and advertised as the “Inventor and sole maker of silk ware pictures”. He had numerous commissions from yachtsmen, sailors, sea captains, tug and ship companies, and others related to the maritime world. He used silk or satin in the sails and velvet in the hulls of his marine paintings. Willis signed many of his paintings with a monogram comprising a “T” over a “W”. His works are represented in many prominent maritime museums including the Mystic Seaport Maritime Museum, The Peabody Museum in Salem, MA and The Mariners Museum in Newport News, VA. He died in New York City in 1912.
Information courtesy of Neal Auction Company, October 2003.