Sawrey Gilpin facts for kids
Sawrey Gilpin (born October 30, 1733 – died March 8, 1807) was an English artist. He was famous for painting animals, especially horses and dogs. He also worked as an illustrator and made etchings. Gilpin became a member of the Royal Academy, which is a big honor for artists.
Early Life and Art Journey
Sawrey Gilpin was born in Carlisle, England. He was the seventh child in his family. His father, Captain John Bernard Gilpin, was a soldier and enjoyed art as a hobby. Sawrey learned to draw from his father, who even ran a drawing school.
From a young age, Sawrey loved art. When he was 14, he moved to London to study with a marine (sea) painter named Samuel Scott. But Sawrey found himself more interested in drawing the horses and carts he saw in the market. It quickly became clear that animals, especially horses, were his true passion.
In 1758, Gilpin decided to focus only on animal painting. Some of his drawings were shown to the Duke of Cumberland. The Duke was very impressed! He hired Gilpin to draw horses from his own stables in Newmarket and Windsor. This helped Gilpin a lot in his art career.
Becoming a Famous Animal Painter
Sawrey Gilpin lived in Knightsbridge in London for many years. He became one of the best horse painters in England. He was also very good at painting other animals. Sometimes, he tried to paint bigger historical scenes that included horses. However, he was best known for his animal art.
Gilpin was mainly an animal painter. This meant he often needed other artists to help him paint the backgrounds (landscapes) or people in his pictures. He worked with artists like George Barret, Sr. for landscapes and John Zoffany or Philip Reinagle for people.
Gilpin started showing his paintings in public in 1762. He often showed pictures of horses. From 1768 to 1771, he displayed a series of paintings that showed scenes from "Gulliver's visit to the Houyhnhnms." The Houyhnhnms are intelligent horses from a famous book.
He also showed his art at the Royal Academy in London starting in 1786. He was elected as an associate of the academy in 1795. Then, in 1797, he became a full Royal Academician (RA), which was a very high honor.
Gilpin married Elizabeth Broom. Their son, William Sawrey Gilpin, also became an artist. Later, his son became a landscape gardener, designing beautiful outdoor spaces. After his wife passed away, Gilpin lived with a friend in Bedfordshire. He then returned to London and spent his last years with his daughters in Brompton, where he died on March 8, 1807.
Some of his students included John Warwick Smith and George Garrard. George Garrard later married Gilpin's oldest daughter, Matilda.
Notable Works
Many of Sawrey Gilpin's paintings of horses, dogs, and hunting scenes were made into prints. Two famous ones are The Death of the Fox (1788) and Heron-Hawking (1780). He also made some etchings (prints made from metal plates) of horses and cattle.
Gilpin also created many illustrations for his brother William's books and other writings. A portrait of Sawrey Gilpin himself is part of a collection of drawings by George Dance, Jr.. These drawings were made into prints by William Daniell and are now in the National Portrait Gallery in London.
You can see Sawrey Gilpin's artwork in several museums. These include the Courtauld Institute of Art, Tate Britain, and the Royal Academy in London. His work is also at the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge.
Images for kids
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Three Hunters in a Rocky Landscape
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A painting of Pitch owned by Colonel Thomas Thornton, 1790
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Gulliver Taking His Final Leave of the Land of the Houyhnhnms
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Furiband with his Owner, Sir Harry Harpur, and a Groom (1774)
