Originally from Germany, he served as court painter to a succession of English kings. He painted hundreds of portraits, and a few earl narrative works.
Britain
Probably the most famous British portrait painter, and first President of the Royal Academy. How he could paint 5-6 portraits in a day, and prosper.
A summary history from 1700 to the 20th century, with examples of major paintings, and links to each of the detailed articles in this series.
His early ambition was to be a history painter. After studying in Rome, when he was on his way back to the US, he stopped off in London. For nearly sixty years.
In a remarkable series of chiaroscuro paintings, he tells stories from the Enlightenment of science, then of the ‘invention’ of painting.
Two of Hogarth’s later narrative series: Four Time of the Day, and Marriage A-la-Mode, were key in his new British narrative painting.
Hogarth devised series of paintings to tell moral stories entirely visually. A Harlot’s Progress and A Rake’s Progress broke new ground in British if not European painting.
Blocked by church doctrine, cultural shortcomings, lack of training and a preference for hiring established artists from continental Europe, narrative painting started with James Thornhill.
Suppressed by the Reformation, narrative painting didn’t really get going in Britain until the early 18th century, but made up for lost time.
A former surgeon, friends with Whistler, Sickert, Steer and Sargent. Influential teacher and one of the British Impressionists.
The Eclectic Light Company 