John Ellys: Bridging the Gap Between Court and Canvas The name John Ellys, though perhaps less celebrated than some of his contemporaries, represents a pivotal figure in 18th-century English portraiture – a painter who skillfully navigated the demanding world of royal commissions, academic training, and evolving artistic styles. Born in March 1701, Ellys’s life unfolded against a backdrop of significant shifts within the British art scene, marked by the rise of Hogarth and Vanderbank, and ultimately shaped by his close association with Sir Robert Walpole. His career wasn't defined by radical…