Francis Hayman facts for kids
Francis Hayman (1708 – 1776) was a famous English painter and illustrator. He helped start the Royal Academy in 1768. This was a very important art school and society. He even became its first librarian.
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Francis Hayman's Life and Art
Francis Hayman was born in Exeter, England. He began his art career in London. He worked as a scene painter at the Drury Lane theatre. This meant he painted the backgrounds for plays. He even acted in small parts sometimes! Later, he opened his own art studio.
His Unique Painting Style
Hayman was a very flexible artist. He was inspired by the French Rococo style. This style often used light colors and playful designs. In the 1740s, he became well-known for his decorative paintings. He created these for the supper boxes at Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens in London. These gardens were popular places for people to relax and enjoy entertainment.
Portraits and Story Paintings
Francis Hayman was also a successful portrait painter. He painted pictures of people. He was also a history painter. This meant he painted scenes from stories or historical events. He combined these skills in many of his works.
He created 31 pictures for a 1744 edition of Shakespeare's plays. He also painted famous actors. They were shown playing characters from Shakespeare's plays. For example, he painted David Garrick as Richard III in 1760.
Illustrating Famous Books
Hayman also illustrated many well-known books. He drew pictures for Pamela by Samuel Richardson. He also illustrated Paradise Lost and Paradise Regained by Milton. Another book he illustrated was Don Quixote. This was a translation by Tobias Smollett.
In the 1760s, he painted large history scenes. These showed British victories in the Seven Years' War. This was a big war fought around the world. These paintings were for Jonathan Tyers, who owned Vauxhall Gardens.
A Talented Teacher
Francis Hayman was a very good teacher. Some of his students became famous artists themselves. These included Mason Chamberlin and Nathaniel Dance-Holland. He also greatly influenced Thomas Gainsborough. Gainsborough became one of England's most important portrait and landscape painters.
Hayman worked with Joshua Reynolds to form the Society of Artists of Great Britain. This group was an early version of the Royal Academy. It was created in the early 1760s. Francis Hayman passed away in 1776. He was buried in St Anne's Church, Soho.
Images for kids
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The play scene from Hamlet, c. 1745
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Dancing milkmaids, c. 1735. The Milkmaid's Garland, Humours of May Day, Reigen der Milchmädchen, or das Manifest
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Print, 1742, V&A Museum no. 26614:53
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Sir Edward Vernon by Francis Hayman c.1755 (detail)
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Lord Clive meeting with Mir Jafar at the Battle of Plassey in 1757
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