Mary Ann Wills
Born
Mary Ann Wykes

1859?
Died1942
Waipukurau
Resting placeOrmondville
Occupationartist
Years active1885–1936
SpouseThomas John Wills
Children3

Mary Ann Wills (née Wykes) (1859?–1942) was a New Zealand artist.

Biography

Wills, born Mary Wykes, married Thomas John Wills, a minister in the Anglican Church, in 1886.[1] Rev. Wills was a leader in the temperance movement and died at aged 46, while minister at the Ormondville vicarage.[2] [3]

Throughout her life, she lived in several locations across both the North and South Islands of New Zealand, including North Canterbury, Westland, Napier, Ormondville, Tokaanu, Taupō, and Ōtaki.[1]

Wills primarily painted landscapes of various locations across New Zealand. She painted over 300 watercolours and oils from 1880-1930s, such as landscapes of Ormondville and Waihi, Taupō, many of which are housed in the National Library of New Zealand.[4] She is said to have known C. F. Goldie who visited her when he returned from a trip to Paris.[1]

She had three sons.[5] Her sons included Webster Harold "Harold" Wills (headmaster of Ōtaki Native College) and her youngest son, Edgar J. Wills.[1][6]

She died in Waipukurau and was buried in Ormondville, where her late husband had been vicar.[1]

Paintings

Signature of Mary Ann Wills from Waihi, Taupo.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Wills, Mary Ann, 1859?–1942". natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
  2. ↑ "DEATH OF THE REV. T. J. WILLS". The New Zealand Herald. Vol. XXXIX, no. 11874. 28 January 1902. p. 5. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
  3. ↑ "DEATHS". Bush Advocate. Vol. XIII, no. 2184. p. 2. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
  4. ↑ "Wills, Mary Ann, 1859?–1942: [Collection of watercolours, oil paintings, and albums by Mary Wills, primarily of landscapes. 1885–1936]". natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
  5. ↑ "OBITUARY – REV. T. J. WILLS". Hawke's Bay Herald. Vol. XXXVII, no. 12063. 27 January 1902. p. 3. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
  6. ↑ "Marriage". Colonist. Vol. LXII, no. 15308. 23 February 1920. p. 4. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
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