Lewis Vaslet facts for kids

Lewis Vaslet (1742–1808) was an English artist. He was known for painting portraits, especially small, oval pictures made with pastels. These often showed people's heads and shoulders. His style was similar to the Irish painter Hugh Douglas Hamilton.

Early Life and Family

Lewis Vaslet was born in 1742 in York, England. His father, Andrew Vaslet, ran a boarding school for young ladies in York.

Lewis's grandfather, Lewis I Vaslet, was a Huguenot (a French Protestant). He was also a school teacher and headmaster of Fulham School near London. He spent 45 years teaching young people.

Becoming an Artist

Lewis Vaslet first started his career as a soldier. He was stationed in Gibraltar for a time. However, he soon decided that being a soldier was not for him.

He then traveled to Italy to study painting. Italy was a great place for artists to learn during that period.

Moving to Bath

By 1770, Lewis Vaslet was back in York. He had many clients from the local wealthy families. He sent some of his miniature portraits to the Royal Academy in London for display.

Around 1775, he moved to Bath, Somerset. Bath was a popular city, known for its beautiful architecture and social life. He lived there for the rest of his life.

Marriage

In 1776, Lewis Vaslet married Juliet Elizabeth Booth Clarke in Bath.

What He Painted

In 1787, Lewis Vaslet advertised the different types of art he could create. He worked with "oils, miniature, crayons," and other materials.

His paintings included:

• Views of country homes
• Pictures of animals like game, fish (both alive and dead)
• Fruits, flowers, and plants
• Insects

He would combine these subjects to create "furniture pictures." These were artworks designed to look good in people's homes. He also mentioned that his work could inspire ladies who enjoyed drawing or needlework.

Where to See His Art

Some of Lewis Vaslet's paintings can still be seen today.

• There are 14 of his pastel drawings in the New Common Room at Merton College, Oxford.
• Other pastel portraits of people from Merton College are in private collections.

Death

Lewis Vaslet passed away in 1808. He had written his will in 1806.