Wolfgang William Claret: A Shadowy Figure of the 18th Century Court Wolfgang William Claret, a name largely obscured by the passage of time, remains a fascinating enigma within the annals of 18th-century portraiture. Born in Exeter, England, around 1665 – though precise dates remain elusive – and tragically dying in 1706, Claret’s life was marked by both artistic promise and a frustrating lack of documented detail. He operated primarily within the vibrant, yet often secretive, world of London’s court artists, working as a draughtsman and eventually establishing himself as a portrait painter,…