Sir William Orpen 1878–1931 William Newenham Montague Orpen (1878–1931) was an Irish painter who primarily worked in London, establishing himself as one of Britain’s most distinctive portraitists and a pivotal figure in documenting the horrors of World War I. Born in Stillorgan, County Dublin, Ireland—the fourth son of Arthur Herbert Orpen—he inherited a passion for artistic pursuits from his parents, both amateur painters who nurtured his early talent within a family steeped in creative tradition. His elder brother, Richard Caulfield Orpen, pursued architecture—creating a familial legacy sp…