Nathaniel Plimer facts for kids
Nathaniel Plimer (born 1757, died 1822) was an English artist. He was famous for painting tiny portraits, called miniatures. These small artworks were often painted on ivory or metal. Nathaniel was born in Wellington, Shropshire, to a clockmaker also named Nathaniel, and his wife, Mary Elizabeth.
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Early Life and Adventures
Nathaniel Plimer didn't start out wanting to be an artist. Like his brother, Andrew Plimer, he was supposed to become a clockmaker, just like their father. But both brothers decided that wasn't the life for them!
They ran away from home and spent more than two years traveling. They explored Wales and the western parts of England. During this time, they traveled with a group of Roma people. This must have been a very exciting and different experience for them! In 1781, they finally settled down in London.
Becoming an Artist
Once in London, Nathaniel began his journey to become a painter.
Learning from Masters
He first became an apprentice to Henry Bone, who was a skilled artist known for working with enamel. Nathaniel even worked as his assistant for a while. Later, he and his brother Andrew studied drawing with another famous artist, Richard Cosway. Cosway was a very important miniature painter of his time. Learning from these masters helped Nathaniel develop his own artistic skills.
Showing His Work
Nathaniel Plimer started showing his paintings at the Royal Academy in London. This was a very important art exhibition. He displayed his work there from 1787 until 1815. Over the years, he showed twenty-six of his miniature portraits. Many of his smaller paintings are still highly valued today.
Later Life
Nathaniel Plimer spent most of his life in London. However, he did live in Edinburgh, Scotland, for about ten years, from 1804 to 1814. He had four children. His youngest daughter, Adela, also married a painter named Andrew Geddes.
