Brief Biography-Accordingto The Reverend Pilkington, William Wissing was born in the Hague, and by other historians, he was born in Amsterdam in 1656. He studied in The Hague with Arnoldus van Ravestyn and William Doudijns, a historical painter and portraitist. He became a successful portraitist in England after 1676 when working with Peter Lely, and after the death of Lely, he continued in his studio. His paintings of the Duke of Monmouth won him recognition from King Charles II and his court. His reputation was second only to Sir Godfrey Kneller, notably after James II commissioned him to paint Princess Mary and William II in The Hague in 1685. He died at Burghley House while painting the Earl of Exeter in 1687.