Thomas Fairland (1804 – October 1852) was an English

lithographer Lithography () is a planographic method of printing originally based on the immiscibility of oil and water. The printing is from a stone (lithographic limestone) or a metal plate with a smooth surface. It was invented in 1796 by the German ...

, engraver and

portrait painter Portrait painting is a Hierarchy of genres, genre in painting, where the intent is to represent a specific human subject. The term 'portrait painting' can also describe the actual painted portrait. Portraitists may create their work by commissio ...

Life and work

Fairland showed an early interest in drawing and practiced from nature in

Kensington Gardens Kensington Gardens, once the private gardens of Kensington Palace, are among the Royal Parks of London. The gardens are shared by the City of Westminster and the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea and sit immediately to the west of Hyde Pa ...

in London. He subsequently became a student of the

Royal Academy The Royal Academy of Arts (RA) is an art institution based in Burlington House in Piccadilly London, England. Founded in 1768, it has a unique position as an independent, privately funded institution led by eminent artists and architects. Its ...

under

Henry Fuseli Henry Fuseli ( ; ; 7 February 1741 – 17 April 1825) was a Swiss painter, draughtsman, and writer on art who spent much of his life in Britain. Many of his successful works depict supernatural experiences, such as '' The Nightmare''. He pr ...

and gained a silver medal for drawing from the cast of

Hercules Hercules (, ) is the Roman equivalent of the Greek divine hero Heracles, son of Jupiter and the mortal Alcmena. In classical mythology, Hercules is famous for his strength and for his numerous far-ranging adventures. The Romans adapted the Gr ...

which stood in the entrance hall of the academy building. Turning his attention to

line engraving Line engraving is a term for engraved images printed on paper to be used as prints or illustrations. The term is mainly used in connection with 18th- or 19th-century commercial illustrations for magazines and books or reproductions of paintings. ...

, he became a pupil of

Charles Warren Sir Charles Warren (7 February 1840 – 21 January 1927) was a British Army officer of the Royal Engineers. He was one of the earliest European archaeologists of the Biblical Holy Land, and particularly of the Temple Mount. Much of his military ...

but was more attracted by the new art of

lithography Lithography () is a planographic method of printing originally based on the miscibility, immiscibility of oil and water. The printing is from a stone (lithographic limestone) or a metal plate with a smooth surface. It was invented in 1796 by ...

in which he produced some very good works. Among these may be noted: *"The recruit - or who'll serve the king", "The Village Champion" and "Left leg foremost (from pictures by

Robert Farrier Robert Farrier (1796–1879) was an English artist best known for his paintings. Early life Farrier was born in 1796 in Chelsea, London, and lived in that area throughout his life. He was first placed for instruction under an engraver, but subs ...

, 1796-1879), *" The poacher's confederate" (after

Charles Hancock Charles Hancock FRCO (4 January 1852 – 6 February 1927) was an organist and composer based in England England is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is located on the island of Great Britai ...

, 1802-1877), *"The Rat catcher" (after

Abraham Cooper Abraham Cooper (1787–1868) was a British animal and battle painter. Life The son of a tobacconist, he was born in Greenwich, London on 8 September 1787.Sir Edwin Landseer Sir Edwin Henry Landseer (7 March 1802 – 1 October 1873) was an English painter and sculptor, well known for his paintings of animals – particularly horses, dogs, and stags. His best-known work is the lion sculptures at the base of Nelso ...

, Abraham Cooper and Charles Hancock). A Volume of comic sketches, after William Henry Hunt, attained great popularity. However, his most important work and one of the best ever executed in lithography, was the cartoon of the

Virgin and Child In Christian art, a Madonna () is a religious depiction of the Blessed Virgin Mary in a singular form or sometimes accompanied by the Child Jesus. These images are central icons for both the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches. The word ...

(known as the Rodgers Madonna) by

Raphael Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino (; March 28 or April 6, 1483April 6, 1520), now generally known in English as Raphael ( , ), was an Italian painter and architect of the High Renaissance. List of paintings by Raphael, His work is admired for its cl ...

. Other subjects lithographed included "The Misers" (after

Quentin Matsys Quentin Matsys () (1466–1530) was a Flemish painter in the Early Netherlandish tradition. He was born in Leuven. According to tradition, he trained as an ironsmith before becoming a painter. Matsys was active in Antwerp for over 20 years, cre ...

), "

Napoleon crossing the Alps ''Napoleon Crossing the Alps'' (also known as ''Napoleon at the Saint-Bernard Pass'' or ''Bonaparte Crossing the Alps''; listed as ''Le Premier Consul franchissant les Alpes au col du Grand Saint-Bernard'') is a series of five oil on canvas eq ...

" (after

Jacques-Louis David Jacques-Louis David (; 30 August 1748 – 29 December 1825) was a French painter in the Neoclassicism, Neoclassical style, considered to be the preeminent painter of the era. In the 1780s, his cerebral brand of history painting marked a change in ...

), "Imogene" (after

Richard Westall Richard Westall (2 January 1765 – 4 December 1836) was an English painter and illustrator of portraits, historical and literary events, best known for his portraits of Byron. He was also Queen Victoria's drawing master. Biography We ...

), and various portraits. He also worked with artist

William Barraud William Barraud (1810 – 1 October 1850) was an English animal painter and illustrator, the brother of Henry Barraud, with whom he collaborated on many works. Biography William was born in Lambeth in London, one of 17 children of William ...

to produce a volume called "The book of animals drawn from nature" (C. Tilt, 1846). However, owing to the decline of lithography due to foreign competition and the vagaries of fashion, Fairland now devoted himself to portrait painting, and enjoyed the patronage of many eminent people including royalty. He struggled however with money and ill-health, and died from

tuberculosis Tuberculosis (TB), also known colloquially as the "white death", or historically as consumption, is a contagious disease usually caused by ''Mycobacterium tuberculosis'' (MTB) bacteria. Tuberculosis generally affects the lungs, but it can al ...

(known then as Consumption) in October 1852, aged 49. He was buried in Kensal Green Cemetery. William Fairland, who it is thought was his brother, also practiced as a lithographer and executed "The Culprit detected" (after Robert Farrier - published 1831), "The Lovers Vigil" (after Robert Smirke) and others. He also did work on anatomical subjects.

References

External links

Portraits lithographed by Thomas Fairland
(

National Portrait Gallery National Portrait Gallery may refer to: * National Portrait Gallery (Australia), in Canberra * National Portrait Gallery (Sweden), in Mariefred *National Portrait Gallery (United States), in Washington, D.C. *National Portrait Gallery, London ...

)
Thomas Fairland on artnet
{{DEFAULTSORT:Fairland, Thomas 19th-century English engravers English lithographers English portrait painters Artists from Kingston upon Hull 1804 births 1852 deaths 19th-century English painters English male painters 19th-century English male artists