Moses Haughton the Elder facts for kids
Moses Haughton, sometimes spelled Horton, was a British artist. He was born around 1734 and passed away on December 24, 1804. Moses Haughton was a talented designer and engraver. He also painted beautiful pictures, especially portraits of people and still life scenes. Still life paintings show objects like fruit or flowers.
His Life and Art
Moses Haughton was born in Wednesbury, a town in Staffordshire, England. He was baptised on March 27, 1735. He first learned to paint with enamel. This is a special type of glass that is melted onto metal or other surfaces. He worked for Hyla Holden in Wednesbury.
Later, in 1761, Haughton moved to Birmingham. There, he worked for famous people like John Baskerville and Henry Clay. He helped create many different products. These included items that were enamelled, japanned, and made of papier-mâché. Japanning is a way of applying a hard, shiny lacquer finish. Papier-mâché is a material made from paper pulp.
Moses Haughton was married to Elizabeth Haughton. She lived from 1741 to January 13, 1816.
Starting an Art School
In 1809, Moses Haughton worked with Samuel Lines to start an art school. It was called a Life Academy. This school was located in Peck Lane, a street in Birmingham. It was very successful!
Because so many students joined, the school moved to a bigger place in Union Passage in 1814. That same year, the school held its first public art show. This art school eventually grew into the important Royal Birmingham Society of Artists. This society still exists today.
His Famous Paintings
Haughton was well-known for his portraits. These are paintings of people. One famous portrait he painted was of Lady Louisa Tollemache, Countess of Dysart. He also painted many still life pictures of dead game. This means animals that were hunted for food.
He showed his artwork at the Royal Academy in London. He exhibited his paintings there between 1788 and 1804. Moses Haughton also helped illustrate a special edition of the Bible in the late 1700s.
A Quiet Artist
People said that Moses Haughton was a "quiet and retiring" person. This means he preferred a calm life and was not very famous outside of Birmingham during his lifetime. He lived for many years in Ashted, which was just outside the city.
He passed away there on December 24, 1804. He was buried in Wednesbury, where he was born. A special marble monument was made to remember him. It had his portrait, sculpted by Peter Rouw. This monument was placed in St Philip's Church in Birmingham.
Moses Haughton's family also had artistic talent. His son, Matthew Haughton, became an artist and engraver. His nephew, Moses Haughton the Younger, was also a painter and engraver.
