The Life and Travels of William Sheppard William Sheppard was an English portrait painter whose life followed a path through many European cities. He first appeared in the records of London in February 1641, identified then as a "Picture maker." His early years were marked by a steady movement across the continent. In July 1647, he spent a year in The Hague in the Netherlands, where he rented a room for his work. The years that follo…