William Beilby facts for kids
William Beilby (born 1740, died 1819) was a famous English artist. He was known for making beautiful glass with special painted designs. This was in the late 1700s. He created a unique style of enamelled glass that looked like part of the glass itself.
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Who Was William Beilby?
William Beilby was a talented glass artist. He became well-known for his special way of painting on glass. His work is now in museums around the world. Even damaged pieces are worth a lot of money today.
Early Life and Family
William Beilby was born in 1740. His father, also named William, was a goldsmith and jeweler in Durham. William and his brothers, Richard, Ralph, and Thomas, all went to grammar school.
When William was older, he went to Birmingham to learn a special skill. He became an apprentice to learn enamelling and drawing. Enamelling is a way of painting with powdered glass that is then heated.
A New Start in Newcastle
Sadly, his father's business ran into trouble. In 1757, the whole family moved to Newcastle upon Tyne. They wanted to start fresh there. William's father passed away eight years later.
In Newcastle, William and his sister Mary (born 1749, died 1797) began working. They painted designs for local glass makers.
Amazing Glass Art
William Beilby loved the old parts of Newcastle. He was also very interested in the busy glass factories around him. In 1761, he made an important discovery. He found a way to heat enamel paints onto glass so they became a permanent part of the glass. This was a new and exciting technique in England.
William taught his sister Mary how to paint with enamels. They worked together in their family workshop. It was near St Nicholas' Church. While Mary was good, she never became as skilled as her brother.
As William became more famous, people asked him to create special glasses. Some had made-up heraldry (family symbols) on them. Others celebrated big events. These events included the election of a new mayor or the launch of a ship. One great example is the 'Margaret and Winneford' bowl. You can see it at the Laing Art Gallery.
Working with His Sister Mary
William and Mary worked together for many years, from 1760 to 1778. In 1767, a young artist named Thomas Bewick joined their family workshop. He became an apprentice to William's brother, Ralph.
Later Years
In 1778, the Beilby family moved from Newcastle to London. Later, they moved to Scotland. During this time, they stopped making glass art. Instead, William painted beautiful watercolor pictures.
Eventually, William moved back to Hull in 1810. This was where his family had roots. He passed away in 1819.
