William Frederick Wells facts for kids
William Frederick Wells (1762 – 10 November 1836) was a talented British artist. He was known for his beautiful landscape paintings, especially those done with watercolours. He also created etchings, which are a type of printmaking. Wells played a big part in starting a famous art group in London.
Contents
Who Was William Frederick Wells?
Early Life and Art Training
William Frederick Wells was born in London in 1762. He studied art in London under a teacher named John James Barralet.
Founding a Famous Art Society
On November 20, 1804, Wells helped start an important art group. This group was called the Society of Painters in Watercolours. Today, it is known as the Royal Watercolour Society. Wells was even the President of this new society from 1806 to 1807.
Travels and Teaching
Wells loved to travel and paint. He explored many places in England and Europe, especially in Norway and Sweden. His artwork was shown every year at the Royal Academy from 1795 to 1813.
For over twenty years, starting in 1813, Wells worked as a Professor of Drawing. He taught at the Addiscombe Military Seminary. This school trained officers for the East India Company Army. He retired from this job just before he died in November 1836. Wells was also a close friend of another famous artist, Joseph Mallord William Turner.
Wells as an Etcher
Between 1801 and 1805, Wells worked with another artist named John Laporte. Together, they made 72 etchings based on drawings by Thomas Gainsborough. Wells created many of these etchings himself. They first sold these etchings one by one. Later, they were put together in colored sets called A Collection of Prints, illustrative of English Scenery, from the Drawings and Sketches of Gainsborough.
Wells also made other etchings. One well-known set was called Select Views in Cumberland, which he finished in 1810.
Later Life and Family
In 1819, Wells moved to a house in Mitcham Common, which is in Surrey. He passed away there on November 10, 1836. He was buried in the churchyard in Mitcham.
Wells married his wife, Mary, around 1786. They had nine children together, including three sons and six daughters. Sadly, two of their children died when they were very young. Mary passed away in 1807.
See also
In Spanish: William Frederick Wells para niños
