James Seymour (artist) facts for kids
James Seymour (born 1702, died 1752) was an English painter. He was very well known for his equestrian art. This means he mostly painted pictures of horses.
About James Seymour
James Seymour was born in London, England. His father was an artist who painted for fun. He also bought and sold art. James's father had other jobs too, like being a banker and a diamond seller. These jobs meant the family had enough money. This allowed young James to spend his time learning about art by himself.
He learned by looking at his father's art collection. He also studied art at a special club called the Virtuosi Club of St. Luke. This was a club for gentlemen who loved art. James quickly became an artist on his own. He learned a lot about the famous artists of his time.
His Love for Horses
James Seymour loved art, but he loved horses just as much! He started visiting racetracks when he was young. Soon, he became very involved in the world of horse racing. He would draw and paint horses. He also owned, bred, and raced horses himself.
His paintings became very popular with important families who loved sports. Soon, powerful people like Sir William Jolliffe and Charles Seymour, 6th Duke of Somerset became his supporters. Sir William Jolliffe loved horses and art so much that he later arranged for a horse statue to be built in Hampshire. Over time, James Seymour's art became famous across Europe and America.
A Pioneer in Sporting Art
Even though his love for horse racing caused him to lose a lot of money, James Seymour is still seen as a very important early artist in sports. He is considered one of the three founders of "sporting art." The other two important artists were John Wootton and Peter Tillemans.
