James Nixon (painter) facts for kids
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James Nixon (born around 1741, died 1812) was a talented English artist. He was famous for painting tiny, detailed pictures called miniatures.
Life of a Miniature Painter
James Nixon was born in Lincoln, England, and was baptised on July 17, 1741. He began his art studies at the Royal Academy Schools in London in March 1769. This was a very important art school.
Before joining the Royal Academy, Nixon showed his artwork with the Society of Artists. He did this from 1765 to 1771. Later, from 1772 to 1805, he regularly showed his paintings at the Royal Academy's yearly exhibitions.
Nixon became one of the best miniature painters of his time. He even worked for important people like the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of York. In 1778, he was chosen to be an Associate of the Royal Academy. This was a special honor for artists.
He lived in London for most of his career. However, he also spent some time working in other cities like Edinburgh and Newcastle.
In 1777, James Nixon married Frances Elizabeth Carrington in Devon. They had a son named James around 1780. James Nixon passed away in Tiverton, Devon, on May 9, 1812, when he was 71 years old.
Famous Works
James Nixon painted many different subjects. He was well-known for his portraits of actors and actresses, such as Elizabeth Farren. He also created pictures of characters from William Shakespeare's plays.
Besides miniatures, Nixon also painted some larger oil portraits. He sent these to the Royal Academy exhibitions. In 1786, he created a series of ten drawings that illustrated a famous book called Tristram Shandy.
Some of his most famous portraits were of Dr. Francis Willis, the Duchess of Devonshire, Elizabeth Hartley, and the sisters Jenny and Nelly Bennet. These portraits were later made into engravings, which meant copies could be printed and shared widely.
