Edward Miles (painter) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Edward Miles
William Beechey: Edward Miles (1785)
Born	14 October 1752 Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England
Died	7 March 1828 (aged 76) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Known for	Portrait miniatures

Edward Miles (1752–1828) was a talented English artist. He was known for painting tiny, detailed portraits called miniatures. Edward showed his art at the Royal Academy in London for many years. He became a special painter for Queen Charlotte in 1794. Later, he moved to St. Petersburg, Russia. There, he painted for Czars Paul I and Alexander I. In 1807, he moved to Philadelphia, USA, where he lived until he passed away in 1828.

Edward Miles: A Miniaturist's Life

Early Life and Talent

Edward Miles was born on October 14, 1752. He grew up in a town called Great Yarmouth in England. When he was young, he worked as an errand-boy for a surgeon. Even then, Edward showed a natural gift for drawing. His boss encouraged him to follow his artistic dreams.

With help from friends in Yarmouth, Edward moved to London in 1771. He met the famous painter Sir Joshua Reynolds. Edward even copied some of Reynolds's paintings. Soon, Edward became well-known for his miniature portraits.

Painting for Royalty

Edward first lived in Tavistock Street, then moved to Berkeley Street in London. He became very popular with important families. From 1775 to 1797, his artwork was displayed at the Royal Academy of Arts. This was a big achievement for an artist.

In 1792, he was chosen to be the miniature painter for the Duchess of York. Two years later, in 1794, he became the official miniature painter for Queen Charlotte herself. He even painted a portrait of the Queen. One of his last important works was a portrait of Emperor Alexander of Russia.

A New Home in America

Edward Miles often visited his hometown of Yarmouth. For a while, people thought he died there in 1798. However, we now know that he moved to Philadelphia, USA, in 1807. He lived there for many years and passed away on March 7, 1828, at the age of 76.

Gallery

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  Snuffbox with miniature of Alexander I of Russia (1763–4)

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  Grand Duchess Alexandra Pavlovna of Russia (1797)

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  Ivan Pavlovich Kutaisov (1800)

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  Young man (early 1800s)

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  Unknown man

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  Portrait of a Gentleman