William Painter

Author

  • Born: c. 1540
  • Birthplace: Probably Kent, England
  • Died: February 1, 1594
  • Place of death: London, England

Biography

William Painter, likely a native of Kent, enrolled in studies at St. John’s College at Cambridge University in 1554, and by 1560, he had become the ordained headmaster of the Sevenoaks School. The next year, on February 9, he became clerk of ordnance, or military supplies, in the Tower of London. While holding that position, Painter embezzled a large sum of money from public funds, and he confessed, in 1586, to owing one thousand pounds to the government.

Despite this confession as well as the charges that were brought against Painter and the 1591 admittance by Painter’s son, Anthony, that the two had misused Painter’s office, Painter was still allowed to keep his position until death. Though the date of that death is not certain; historians believe it took place not long after February 14, 1594, when Painter dictated his will.

Painter was best known for his landmark work The Palace of Pleasure, the first volume of which appeared in 1566 with a dedication to the earl of Warwick, Painter’s supervisor at the Tower of London. The volume collected sixty tales that Painter had translated from various sources, including Matteo Bandello, Margaret of Navarre, and Giovanni Boccaccio. The second volume appared the next year with thirty-four new tales, and a second edition in 1575 added seven more stories to the collection. The Palace of Pleasure became an influential work, serving as a source for many Elizabethan dramatists, Shakespeare included.