Ford Madox Brown


Brown, Ford Madox,

1821–93, English historical painter, b. Calais, France. Although closely affiliated with the Pre-RaphaelitesPre-Raphaelites
, brotherhood of English painters and poets formed in 1848 in protest against what they saw as the low standards and decadence of British art. The principal founders were D. G. Rossetti, W.
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 in London, he never joined the brotherhood. Examples of his paintings are Work (1852–63; Manchester Art Gall.); The Last of England (1855; Birmingham Gall.); and his series of 12 frescoes in the town hall of Manchester, depicting the history of that city. He was the grandfather of Ford Madox FordFord, Ford Madox,
1873–1939, English author; grandson of Ford Madox Brown. He changed his name legally from Ford Madox Hueffer in 1919. The author of over 60 works including novels, poems, criticism, travel essays, and reminiscences, Ford also edited the
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.

Brown, Ford Madox

 

Born Apr. 16, 1821, in Calais; died Oct. 6, 1893, in London. English painter.

Brown studied in Belgium. His historical and religious compositions, which influenced the Pre-Raphaelites, are of a romantic moralizing character and are distinguished by explicitness of detail and sharpness of color (Christ Washing Peter’s Feet, 1852, Tate Gallery, London; paintings on the history of Manchester, 1873-93, Town Hall, Manchester). Brown’s paintings The Last of England (1852-55, Birmingham Art Gallery) and Work (1852-65, Manchester Art Gallery), in which laborers are juxtaposed with the idle rich, were inspired by his social Utopian views.

REFERENCE

Rossetti, W. M. F. M. Brown. London, 1902.