Walter Francis Brown facts for kids

Walter Francis Brown (born January 10, 1853, in Providence, Rhode Island, died November 7, 1929, in Venice, Italy) was an American artist. He was known for his paintings and illustrations.

About Walter Francis Brown

Walter Francis Brown was born to Samuel Welch Brown and Mary Elizabeth Thurber. He went to Brown University and earned a degree in 1873. After that, he traveled to Paris to study art. He learned from famous painters like Jean-Léon Gérôme and Léon Bonnat at the École des Beaux-Arts.

Later, Walter moved to Venice, Italy. He set up his art studio in a place called Palazzo da Mula. He became very good at painting scenes of cities, especially Venice.

His Art and Illustrations

Walter Francis Brown was also a talented illustrator. He drew pictures for several books. One book he illustrated was Settlement of Rhode Island (1874). He also created drawings for A Tramp Abroad (1889) by the famous writer Mark Twain.

Besides books, Walter's artwork appeared in popular magazines. He contributed to Harper's Weekly, Leslie's, and St. Nicholas. Many of Walter Francis Brown's artworks are now kept at Brown University in the John Hay Library.

Gallery

• Illustrations from ''A Tramp Abroad''
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• Other works
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  "Venice"
  Stephen Parrish (1846–1938), etcher
  Brown, artist
  ©1880, Christian Klackner (1850–1919), New York
  

His Family Connections

In 1885, Walter Francis Brown married Louise Tifft Beckwith. His younger brother was Arthur Lewis Brown. Arthur became a United States District Judge in Rhode Island. Walter and Arthur were also nephews of George Thurber. George was a well-known naturalist and writer.

Walter Francis Brown was also related to important figures in the history of Brown University. He was a distant cousin of four brothers who helped move the university to Providence. These brothers were Nicholas, Joseph, John, and Moses Brown. One of Nicholas's sons, Nicholas Brown, Jr., is the person the university is named after.