George Farington facts for kids
George Farington (1752–1788) was a talented English artist from the 1700s. He was known for his historical paintings, which told stories from the past. George Farington traveled far to practice his art, even going to India.
Early Life and Artistic Training
George Farington was born in a town called Leigh, Lancashire, England, in 1752. He was one of many children born to his father, who was a church leader. George's older brother, Joseph Farington, was also an artist, and he helped George learn about art when he was young.
George later became a student at the Royal Academy in London. This was a very important art school. He worked hard and won awards for his skills. In 1779, he earned a silver medal. The next year, in 1780, he won the gold medal for his best historical painting. This famous painting showed a scene from William Shakespeare's play, Macbeth, called 'The Caldron Scene'.
George Farington preferred painting historical scenes. He learned from a famous American artist named Benjamin West, who was known for his large historical paintings. George also received many jobs from John Boydell, a well-known publisher and art dealer. For Boydell, George created many drawings from a famous art collection called Houghton.
Journey to India and Final Work
In 1782, George Farington decided to travel to India. He went there to continue his art and capture new scenes. He began working on a very important painting. This painting was meant to show the grand court of the Nawab of Murshidabad. The Nawab was a powerful ruler in India.
While working on this big project, George Farington became very ill. Sadly, he passed away in India a few days later, in 1788. He was only 36 years old.
