Thomas Foster (painter) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Thomas Foster
Born	1796-1798 Dublin, Ireland
Died	1826 (aged 27–28) Piccadilly, London
Nationality	Irish
Occupation	Painter

Thomas Foster (born between 1796 and 1798 – died 1826) was a talented Irish artist. He was known for painting portraits of people.

Who Was Thomas Foster?

Thomas Foster was born in Dublin, Ireland, sometime between 1796 and 1798. When he was about 13 years old, in 1811, he started studying art at the Dublin Society School. This was a special school where young artists could learn and improve their skills.

Sadly, Thomas Foster passed away quite young. He died in March 1826, when he was around 29 years old. He was in a hotel in Piccadilly, London, at the time of his death.

Foster's Artistic Journey

Thomas Foster showed great promise as an artist early on. In 1815, he won an award for two portraits and another painting. These artworks were shown at an exhibition by the Hibernian Society of Artists. He also displayed a painting called The Adoration of the Shepherds that same year.

In 1816, he exhibited a painting titled Hercules throwing Lychas into the Sea. The next year, 1817, he showed two more works: a Portrait and Christ taken down from the Cross.

Moving to London and Royal Academy

In 1818, when he was about 21, Foster moved to London, England. There, he joined the schools of the Royal Academy. This was a very important step for his career. He often visited the studio of a famous sculptor named Joseph Nollekens. Foster would practice drawing and modeling from old statues there.

He also became friends with a person named Croker and painted many portraits of Croker's family members. Foster even knew Sir Thomas Lawrence, another well-known painter. Foster would make copies of Lawrence's portraits for Croker.

Exhibitions and Recognition

Thomas Foster exhibited his paintings at the Royal Academy from 1819 to 1825. In 1822, he showed a painting called Mazeppa. He also displayed his art at the British Institution between 1819 and 1826.

Foster was one of the first members of the Royal Hibernian Academy (RHA). This was a new art academy in Ireland. However, he passed away before the RHA held its very first exhibition.

Thomas Foster was well-liked and popular in society. Some people, like fellow painter James Northcote, thought that his busy social life might have stopped him from becoming an even greater artist. Northcote even used Foster as a model for one of the characters in his painting, Burial of the Princes in the Tower. Foster was also asked to paint a scene of Louis XVIII receiving a special award called the Order of the Garter at Carlton House. He made several practice drawings for this big project.

When he died, Thomas Foster had an unfinished portrait of John Banim on his easel. Four of his paintings were shown after his death at the first RHA exhibition.

Famous Artworks by Thomas Foster

Here are some of the paintings Thomas Foster created:

• The Cup found in Benjamin's Sack (painted in 1818)
• Mercury sealing up the Eyes of Argus (painted in 1819)
• Portrait of Thomas Elrington, Provost of Trinity College (painted in 1820)
• Sir Henry Bishop (painted in 1821)
• Colonel Phillips (painted in 1821)
• Miss Tree (painted in 1823)