Brown was the son of Gawen and Elizabeth (Byles) Brown, and descended from the Rev. Increase Mather on his mother's side. He was taught by his aunt and around 1773 (age 12) became a pupil of Gilbert Stuart. He arrived in London in 1781 to further his training in Benjamin West's studio, entered the Royal Academy schools in 1782 with plans to be a miniature painter, and began to exhibit a year later.
Painting careeredit
In 1784, he painted two religious paintings for the church of St. Mary's-in-the-Strand, which led Brown to found a partnership with the painter Daniel Orme for the commercialization of these and other works through exhibition and the sale of engravings. Among these were large paintings of scenes from English history, as well as scenes from Shakespeare's plays. However, despite their success he began to concentrate on portraiture. His first successes were with American sitters, among others his patron John Adams and family in 1784–85; this painting is now in the Boston Athenæum. In the spring of 1786, he began painting the earliest known portrait of Thomas Jefferson, who was visiting London. He also painted Charles Bulfinch the same year. He was elected a Foreign Honorary Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1798.[1]
A falling off patronage in the mid-1790s, and failure to be elected to the Royal Academy, led Brown to leave London in 1808 for Bath, Bristol, and Liverpool. He settled in Manchester, returning to London almost two decades later, in 1824, where, even after West's death, he continued to imitate his teacher's style of painting. Unable to secure commissions, Brown eventually died in poverty in London.
^"Book of Members, 1780–2010: Chapter B" (PDF). American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Retrieved 7 August 2014.
^Rebora, Carrie; et al. (1995). John Singleton Copley in America. Metropolitan Museum of Art. pp. 190–192. ISBN0-87099-744-0.
Sourcesedit
Evans, Dorinda, Mather Brown: Early American Artist in England. Middletown, CT: Wesleyan, 1982.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mather Brown.
44 artworks by or after Mather Brown at the Art UK site
Union List of Artist Names, Getty Vocabularies. ULAN Full Record Display for Mather Brown. Getty Vocabulary Program, Getty Research Institute. Los Angeles, California.
February 16, 2024
mather, brown, baptized, october, 1761, 1831, american, painter, born, boston, massachusetts, active, england, self, portrait, 1812bornbaptized, 1761, october, 1761boston, province, massachusetts, british, americadied25, 1831, 1831, aged, london, englandnation. Mather Brown baptized 11 October 1761 25 May 1831 was an American painter who was born in Boston Massachusetts and was active in England Mather BrownSelf portrait 1812BornBaptized 1761 10 11 11 October 1761Boston Province of Massachusetts Bay British AmericaDied25 May 1831 1831 05 25 aged 69 London EnglandNationalityAmericanKnown forPortrait and historical painterSignature Contents 1 Early life 2 Painting career 3 Later life and death 4 Gallery 5 References 6 Sources 7 External linksEarly life editBrown was the son of Gawen and Elizabeth Byles Brown and descended from the Rev Increase Mather on his mother s side He was taught by his aunt and around 1773 age 12 became a pupil of Gilbert Stuart He arrived in London in 1781 to further his training in Benjamin West s studio entered the Royal Academy schools in 1782 with plans to be a miniature painter and began to exhibit a year later Painting career editIn 1784 he painted two religious paintings for the church of St Mary s in the Strand which led Brown to found a partnership with the painter Daniel Orme for the commercialization of these and other works through exhibition and the sale of engravings Among these were large paintings of scenes from English history as well as scenes from Shakespeare s plays However despite their success he began to concentrate on portraiture His first successes were with American sitters among others his patron John Adams and family in 1784 85 this painting is now in the Boston Athenaeum In the spring of 1786 he began painting the earliest known portrait of Thomas Jefferson who was visiting London He also painted Charles Bulfinch the same year He was elected a Foreign Honorary Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1798 1 His 1788 full length portrait of Prince Frederick Augustus in the uniform of Colonel of the Coldstream Guards led to appointment as History and Portrait Painter to the Prince later the Duke of York and Albany Other paintings include the Prince of Wales later George IV about 1789 Queen Charlotte and Cornwallis A self portrait now belongs to the American Antiquarian Society Worcester Massachusetts Later life and death editA falling off patronage in the mid 1790s and failure to be elected to the Royal Academy led Brown to leave London in 1808 for Bath Bristol and Liverpool He settled in Manchester returning to London almost two decades later in 1824 where even after West s death he continued to imitate his teacher s style of painting Unable to secure commissions Brown eventually died in poverty in London Gallery edit nbsp 1763 portrait by John Singleton Copley of Elizabeth Byles Brown Mather Brown s mother 2 nbsp Portrait of virtuoso violinist and champion fencer Chevalier de Saint Georges in 1787 nbsp Portrait of John Adams 1785 nbsp Portrait of Thomas Jefferson while in London in 1786References edit Book of Members 1780 2010 Chapter B PDF American Academy of Arts and Sciences Retrieved 7 August 2014 Rebora Carrie et al 1995 John Singleton Copley in America Metropolitan Museum of Art pp 190 192 ISBN 0 87099 744 0 Sources editEvans Dorinda Mather Brown Early American Artist in England Middletown CT Wesleyan 1982 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mather Brown 44 artworks by or after Mather Brown at the Art UK site Union List of Artist Names Getty Vocabularies ULAN Full Record Display for Mather Brown Getty Vocabulary Program Getty Research Institute Los Angeles California Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Mather Brown amp oldid 1172470969, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
