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W. Bromley
Portrait of George Parr
Oil on canvas
69.5 x 54 cm
c.1850
George Parr who was born at Radcliffe-on-Trent, in Nottinghamshire, May 22, 1826, made his first-class debut in 1844. Within a few seasons he developed into the one of the finest batsman in England. He joined Clarke's All-England XI soon after its formation in 1846. His scoring feats soon earned him the title of `Lion of the North'. Upon the death of Clarke in 1856, Parr took control of the XI and soon excelled himself as captain, being popular both with his team and the spectators. In 1859 he, with the assistance of John Wisden, led the first touring team abroad. The team, which comprised of six of the All-England XI and six of the United England XI (known as Parr’s XI), was victorious in every match. Four years later, in 1863, George Parr captained the second touring team from England to venture to Australia also returning unbeaten. He died in 1891, at the age of sixty-five.
William Bromley III, a London historical and genre painter, exhibited at the Society of British Artists, the British Institution and the Royal Academy between the years of 1844 and 1870.