William Mulready was an Irish genre painter living in London. He is best known for his romanticising depictions of rural scenes, and for creating Mulready stationery letter sheets, issued at the same time as the Penny Black postage stamp.
1860s albumen print portrait by Cundall, Downes & Co
Choosing the Wedding Gown illustrating chapter 1 of Vicar of Wakefield by Oliver Goldsmith
The Sonnet: 1839 Mulready oil painting in V&A Collection
This painting by Mulready portrays the African-American actor Ira Aldridge, known in Europe for his Shakespearean roles, including Othello, Lear, and Macbeth. The Walters Art Museum.
Mulready stationery describes the postal stationery letter sheets and envelopes that were introduced as part of the British Post Office postal reforms of 1840. They went on sale on 1 May 1840, and were valid for use from 6 May. The Mulready name arises from the fact that William Mulready, a well-known artist of the time, was commissioned to illustrate the part of the letter sheets and envelopes which corresponded with the face area.
The one penny Mulready stationery issued in 1840, hand coloured
The 2 pence Mulready stationery issued in 1840