William Marlow facts for kids
William Marlow (born 1740 – died 1813) was a talented English artist. He was known for painting beautiful landscapes and scenes of the sea. He also created etchings, which are a type of printmaking. Marlow's art often showed famous places in London and scenes from his travels in Europe.
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The Life of William Marlow
William Marlow was born in Southwark, a part of London. He started learning about art at a young age. For five years, he was a student of Samuel Scott. Scott was a famous painter of marine (sea) scenes. Marlow also studied at the St. Martin's Lane Academy, a well-known art school.
Early Career and Travel
Marlow became a member of the Incorporated Society of Artists. This was an important group for artists at the time. From 1762 to 1764, he showed his paintings at their exhibitions. During this time, he often painted pictures of large country houses.
From 1765 to 1768, Marlow went on an exciting trip. He traveled through France and Italy. This trip was suggested by the Duchess of Northumberland. Traveling helped him see new places and get ideas for his art.
Returning to London
After his travels, Marlow came back to London. He lived in Leicester Square, a busy area. He continued to show his art with the Society of Artists. In 1771, he became a Fellow of the Society. This was a special honor.
Later, in 1788, Marlow moved to Twickenham. This was a quieter town outside London. He started showing his paintings at the Royal Academy. This was another very important art group. He exhibited his work there regularly until 1796. His last exhibition was in 1807, where he showed a painting called Twickenham Ferry by Moonlight.
William Marlow passed away in Twickenham on January 14, 1813.
William Marlow's Art and Style
Marlow worked with both oil paints and watercolors. He painted many different subjects. These included scenes of the sea and beautiful landscapes. Other famous painters, like Richard Wilson and Canaletto, influenced his style.
Painting British and Italian Scenes
Most of Marlow's paintings showed scenes from the British countryside. However, he also used his sketches from Italy to create new pictures. He even made etchings of some of his Italian views. He also created etchings of scenes along the River Thames in London.
Some of his most famous paintings show the bridges in London. His views of Westminster Bridge and Blackfriars Bridge were so popular that they were made into engravings. This meant more people could see and own copies of his art.
Special Projects and Exhibitions
Marlow also contributed to a special book. It featured watercolors illustrating designs by William Chambers. These designs were for buildings and improvements at Kew Gardens. In 1763, these pictures were published in a book.
In 1795, one of Marlow's former students, John Curtis, published a collection of six Italian views by Marlow. One interesting oil painting by Marlow is called Capriccio: St Paul's and a Venetian Canal. This painting is now at the Tate Gallery in London. In it, Marlow imagined Wren's famous St Paul's Cathedral placed in the Italian city of Venice. It's a fun mix of two different places!
Marlow was a very productive artist. He showed a total of 152 works in exhibitions. Most of these were at the Society of Artists.
Where to See His Work
Today, you can find many of William Marlow's paintings in important collections. The Government Art Collection and the Tate Gallery in London have many of his works. Some of his art is also in regional galleries across Britain, like the Derby Art Gallery.
