William Henry Hunt (1790-1864) was an English watercolourist, known as one of the key figures in nineteenth-century English watercolour painting. Born in London, he was apprenticed to John Varley, a watercolorist and drawing master. Despite having deformed legs that hampered his movement, Hunt made significant progress under Varley's tutelage, exhibiting at the Royal Academy and becoming a member of the Society of Painters in Watercolours. His work was extensively collected in his lifetime, particularly his genre pictures of children, often in humorous situations, and his detailed, naturalistic still lifes of fruit, flowers, and birds' nests, earning him the nickname ‘Bird’s Nest’ Hunt.
Hunt's cultural impact is significant. His detailed and naturalistic style influenced the course of English watercolour painting. His genre pictures of children and his still lifes were widely collected, reflecting the Victorian era's fascination with domesticity and the natural world. His work continues to be appreciated for its detail, naturalism, and charm, leaving a lasting legacy in the art world.
