School of Art

Contact Details

School of Art
Aberystwyth University
Buarth Mawr
Aberystwyth
Ceredigion
SY23 1NG

Tel: +44 (0)1970 622460

Fax: +44 (0)1970 622461

Email: artschool@aber.ac.uk


Display artist/maker:

Frederick William Burton , Sir

Born: 1816, Republic of Ireland, County Clare, Corofin   Died: 1900, UK, England, London, Kensington

Painter and museum director. Studied in watercolour painting Dublin. Developed an interest in Irish history and portrait painting. Elected Royal Hibernian Academician in 1839, and began exhibiting at the Royal Academy in London in 1842. Made several long trips across Europe to Germany from 1842 onwards, through which he established a profound knowledge of the Old Masters. Settled in Munich in 1851 and served as painter to Maximilian II of Bavaria, 1851-8. Subsequently moved to London and stood as a full member of the Royal Society of Painters in Watercolours (now RWS), 1856-70, and re-elected honorary member in 1886. Appointed director of the National Gallery in 1874-94, where he was responsible for many important purchases including ‘Virgin of the Rocks’ (1483-6) by Leonardo da Vinci and ‘The Ambassadors’ (1533) by Hans Holbein. During this time he gave up painting all together. Awarded a knighthood in 1884. Among his best-known watercolours are ‘Aran Fisherman’s Drowned Child’ (1841), and ‘The Meeting on the Turret Stairs’ (1864), esteemed for their vibrant colours, careful observation of costume and dramatic composition

Objects in the collections associated with this artist/maker

The Satrap PL24 Prints1860s




 
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