William Hughes was a 19th century still life painter. A pupil of George Lance and William Holman. Hunt, Hughes lived in London and Brighton, England over the course of his artistic career. Over the years, Hughes exhibited at the Royal Academy, the British Institution, the Society of British Artists at Suffolk Street and the Grosvenor Gallery. Best known for his still lifes and nature scenes, he was commissioned to paint a set of five large bird pictures for the hall of Lord Calthorpe’s house in Grosvenor Square.