Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Hannan, William
HANNAN, WILLIAM (d. 1775?), draughtsman and decorative painter, a native of Scotland, was first apprenticed to a cabinet-maker, but his master encouraged him to cultivate a talent for drawing. He was employed by Lord le Despenser to decorate his house at West Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, where he painted several ceilings, the drawings for which are preserved in the library at Eton College. He drew in black chalk and Indian ink four views of the gardens at West Wycombe, which were engraved by William Woollett [q. v.]; two of these drawings are now in the print room at the British Museum. Hannan exhibited some drawings with the Incorporated Society of Artists from 1769 to 1772; they were mostly views in the Lakes and Cumberland. He was an excellent draughtsman. He died at West Wycombe about 1775.
[Edwards' Anecdotes of Painters; Redgrave's Dict. of Artists; Fagan's Cat. of Woollett's Works; Exhibition Catalogues.]