Henry Singleton (painter) facts for kids
Henry Singleton (born October 19, 1766 – died September 15, 1839) was an English painter. He was also a miniaturist, meaning he painted very small, detailed pictures.
Henry Singleton's Family Life
Henry Singleton was born in London, England. He came from a family of artists. His father died when Henry was very young. So, his uncle, William Singleton, raised him. William was also a painter, and he taught Henry.
Another uncle, Joseph Singleton, showed his art at the Royal Academy. Henry's sisters, Maria and Sarah, were also miniaturists. They showed their tiny paintings at the Royal Academy too.
In 1807, Henry married his cousin, who was William Singleton's daughter. Henry Singleton passed away in London when he was 72 years old. He was buried in the church of St Martin-in-the-Fields.
Henry Singleton's Artistic Work
Henry Singleton painted miniatures, like his family members. But he also painted many other types of art. He showed about 300 works at the Royal Academy between 1784 and 1839. Many of these were portraits of people. He also painted scenes from the Bible.
Henry started working as a professional portrait painter at age sixteen. He studied at the Royal Academy Schools. In 1784, he won a silver medal there. Later, in 1788, his painting based on a famous poem won a gold medal.
In 1793, the Royal Academy asked Singleton to paint a group portrait. This painting showed forty members of the Academy. It's interesting because Henry himself never became a full member.
Early in his career, Singleton was known for large paintings. These often showed stories from the Bible or Shakespeare's plays. He also painted important historical events. Even though people always wanted his portraits, he never became as famous for his historical paintings as expected.
Some famous people he painted include Lord Nelson, Admiral Vernon, and Lord Howe. Two of his best-known works are "Paul I Granting Liberty to Kościuszko" (1797) and "The Death of Captain Alexander Hood" (1798). Before he died, Singleton finished a series of small pictures. These pictures were made to illustrate Shakespeare's plays.
Today, you can find Henry Singleton's art in many museums. These include the British Museum, the Victoria and Albert Museum, and the National Portrait Gallery (London). His works are also in the Tate Britain and the Ulster Museum.
