Francis Parsons (painter) facts for kids

Francis Parsons (active from 1763 to 1783, died in 1804) was an English artist who painted portraits. He lived during a time when art was changing, and he captured the faces of important people. Even though he was known for his paintings, he also worked as an art dealer and restorer later in his life.

Early Life and Art Training

Francis Parsons began his journey as an artist by studying at a special drawing school. This school was called the drawing academy in St. Martin's Lane, a famous place in London. Here, he learned the skills he needed to become a portrait painter.

A Painter's Career

Parsons started showing his artwork to the public in 1763. One of his first exhibitions was at the Society of Artists' exhibition in Spring Gardens. At this show, he displayed portraits of a Native American chief and an actress named Miss Davies.

He was an active member of the art community. Parsons joined the Incorporated Society of Artists. He even held important roles there, serving as a director in 1775 and the years after. In 1776, he was the treasurer for the society, managing their money.

Famous Portraits

Francis Parsons painted several notable people during his career. One of his well-known works was a portrait of James Brindley, a famous engineer. This painting was later turned into a special kind of print called a mezzotint by R. Dunkarton in 1770. Parsons himself published these prints from his home in Great Ormond Street, London. Another artist named Cook also made an engraving of the same portrait.

Parsons also painted another portrait of Cunne Shote, who was a Cherokee chief. This portrait was also made into a mezzotint print by J. McArdell.

What is a Mezzotint?

A mezzotint is a special way of making prints from a metal plate. Artists use tools to roughen the surface of a copper plate, which holds the ink. Then, they smooth out certain areas to create different shades and tones. This method allows for very soft and detailed images, especially good for portraits.

A New Path: Art Dealer

Even though Francis Parsons was a portrait painter, he didn't become hugely famous for it. Because of this, he decided to try something different later in his life. He opened a shop where he bought and sold old paintings. He also became a restorer, which means he fixed and cleaned old artworks to make them look new again.

Parsons showed his art for the last time in 1783. He passed away in 1804.