Francis Nicholson (painter) facts for kids
Francis Nicholson (born 14 November 1753 – died 6 March 1844) was a talented British artist. He created beautiful paintings using both watercolour and oil paints. He is best known for his amazing landscape artworks.
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Early Life of Francis Nicholson
Francis Nicholson was born in a town called Pickering in North Yorkshire, England. This was on November 14, 1753.
Becoming an Artist
Nicholson began his art journey by studying with a local artist in Scarborough. After his studies, he started his career in his hometown of Pickering. He painted many different types of pictures. These included sporting scenes and portraits of people for various supporters in Yorkshire. By the mid-1780s, he also started painting country houses. This led him to focus more on landscapes using watercolour paints.
Exhibitions and Publications
From 1789, Francis Nicholson began showing his artwork at the Royal Academy. He displayed paintings of both Yorkshire and Scotland. He also created detailed views of places for a publication called the Copper Plate Magazine.
He worked with an engraver named Francis Jukes on a project called "Views of England." These were part of a large book series. The series was titled "The Beauties of England and Wales." This collection was published in 18 volumes between 1801 and 1815.
Moving to London
Even though many people who bought his art were in London, Nicholson continued to live in Yorkshire. He lived in towns like Whitby, Knaresborough, and Ripon. He did not move to London until around 1803.
In 1804, he became one of the founding members of the Society of Painters in Watercolours. He regularly contributed many paintings to their exhibitions.
Later Life and Legacy
In 1820, Nicholson wrote a helpful book. It was called The practice of drawing and painting landscape from nature, in water colours. This book was very popular and quickly sold out. A second edition was published just three years later, in 1823.
Francis Nicholson passed away in London on March 6, 1844. He is buried there in Brompton Cemetery.
His self-portrait, painted around 1837, can be seen today. It is displayed in the National Portrait Gallery in London. He is often called the "Father of watercolour painting." He was also an early expert in a printing method called lithography. A famous artist named J. M. W. Turner greatly admired his work.
In October 2012, a special blue plaque was put up in Pickering. This plaque honors Francis Nicholson's memory. It is located at 3 Hungate Pickering. His daughter, Marianne Croker, also became an artist, poet, and author. She married Thomas Crofton Croker.
