Who was Ford Maddox Brown?
Painter.
Date and Place of Birth:
16th April 1821, Calais, France.
Family Background:
The son of a ship's purser.
Education:
Studied art in Antwerp under Baron Waupers. Also
at Bruges, Paris and Rome.
Chronology/Biography of Ford Maddox
Brown:
1841: Establishes
himself as a history painter and completes "Manfred on the
Jungfrau" in Paris. Also works on "The Execution of Mary
Queen of Scots".
1845: Visits Italy
and was bowled over by the richness of colour in Italian masterpieces
which led him to increase his own tonal range.
1846: Settles in
England. Becomes a friend of the Pre-Raphaelites but is never a
member of the Brotherhood. Dante Gabriel Rossetti
works in his studio as he is initially impressed by his colour work.
1851: Paints "Chaucer
Reciting his Poetry".
1852: Begins his
elaborate masterpiece "Work" which he completes in 1863.
1855: Paints "The
Last of England".
1861: Becomes a
founder member with William Morris of Morris,
Marshall, Faulkner and Company which was later to become Morris
and Company. He produced several furniture and stained glass designs
for the company. Paints his other major mature painting "Christ
Washing Peter's Feet".
1892: Produces twelve
frescoes for Manchester Town Hall.
Marriage:
1. To Elisabeth Bromley on 3rd April 1841 at
the Parish Church in Meopham.
2. To Emma Hill on 5th April 1853 at St. Dunstan in the West, Fleet
Street, London.
Places of Interest:
BIRMINGHAM:
Museum and Art Gallery. ("The Last of England")
(copy of "Work").
LONDON:
Tate Britain.
MANCHESTER:
Manchester Town Hall. (Murals)
Manchester City Art Gallery. ("Work")
Whitworth Art Gallery.
Date and Place of Death:
6th October 1893, London, England.
Age at Death:
71.
Site of Grave:
St. Pancras Cemetery, London, next to his
second wife Emma and two children.
