Edward Page Clowser
Oil painting on canvas by George Liddell, 1852
The portrait seen here is that of Edward Page Clowser the uncle of William Clowser a Winchester businessman. Edward Page Clowser never lived in Winchester and from the census returns appears to have been a gentleman of independent means suggesting family money. The identity of the artist is also a mystery as no exhibited artist of that name can be found. It is probably a pure coincidence that a George Liddell lived at Abbey House around 1859 as he is not listed as an artist.
William Clowser served in the Rifle Brigade as a messman for twenty years and possibly came to Winchester as a result of the Rifles being based here. After leaving the Rifles he managed the City Club in St Peter's Street and then went on to found the City Restaurant at 6, Jewry Street on 19th August 1885. William Clowser died in 1917.
Winchester City Council also holds the portraits of Edward's parents George and Hester Clowser; these two portraits are hung in Abbey House. The three portraits were donated to the city in 1956 by William's grandson C.E. Clowser.
