Thomas Malton
Encyclopedia
Thomas Malton "the younger", was an English painter of topographical and architectural views, and an engraver. J M W Turner and Thomas Girtin
were amongst his pupils. He is designated "the younger" to differentiate him from his father Thomas Malton the elder.
Malton was born in London, the son of Thomas Malton the elder, a notable architectural draughtsman
and writer on geometry
. He was with his father during the latter's residence in Dublin, Ireland, and then passed three years in the office of James Gandon
the architect, in London. In 1774 Malton received a premium from the Society of Arts. He entered the Royal Academy
and in 1782 gained a gold medal for his design for a theatre. In 1773 he sent the Academy a view of Covent Garden
, and was afterwards a constant exhibitor, chiefly of views of London streets and buildings, drawn in Indian ink and tinted. In these there is little attempt at pictorial effect, but their extreme accuracy in the architectural details renders them of great interest and value as topographical records. They are enlivened with groups of figures, in which Malton is said to have been assisted by Francis Wheatley
.
After leaving Ireland, Malton appears to have always lived in London - with the exception of a brief stay at Bath in 1780. From 1783 to 1789 he resided in Conduit Street (London), and at an evening drawing class which he held there, received as pupils Thomas Girtin
and young J M W Turner, whose father brought him to be taught perspective. Turner paid tribute to him in later life by saying "My real master was Tom Malton".
In 1791 Malton removed to Great Titchfield Street
, and finally, in 1796, to Long Acre. He made a few of the drawings for Watts's "Seats of the Nobility and Gentry" published in 1779, and executed some large aquatint
s of buildings in both London and Bath, being one of the first to avail himself of the newly introduced art of aquatinta for the purpose of multiplying copies of his views. He also painted some scenes for Covent Garden Theatre.
In 1792 Malton published the work by which he is now best known, 'A Picturesque Tour through the Cities of London and Westminster', illustrated with a hundred aquatint plates. Between 1798-1800 he produced "Views from Cambridge
", and at the time of his death was engaged upon a similar series of views of Oxford
, some of which appeared in parts in 1802, and were reissued with others in 1810.
Malton died in Long Acre, London on 7 March 1804, leaving a widow and six children. His portrait, painted by Gilbert Stuart
, was engraved by William Barney in 1806. A portrait of his son Charles, when a child, drawn by Sir Thomas Lawrence
, was engraved by F C Lewis
.
Malton's brother James Malton
was also a notable artist, draughtsman and engraver.
in London; the Victoria Art Gallery
in Bath, Somerset; the State Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg, Russia etc.
Thomas Girtin
Thomas Girtin was an English painter and etcher. A friend and rival of J. M. W. Turner, Girtin played a key role in establishing watercolour as a reputable art form.-Biography:...
were amongst his pupils. He is designated "the younger" to differentiate him from his father Thomas Malton the elder.
Life and work
Technical drawing
Technical drawing, also known as drafting or draughting, is the act and discipline of composing plans that visually communicate how something functions or has to be constructed.Drafting is the language of industry....
and writer on geometry
Geometry
Geometry arose as the field of knowledge dealing with spatial relationships. Geometry was one of the two fields of pre-modern mathematics, the other being the study of numbers ....
. He was with his father during the latter's residence in Dublin, Ireland, and then passed three years in the office of James Gandon
James Gandon
James Gandon is today recognised as one of the leading architects to have worked in Ireland in the late 18th century and early 19th century. His better known works include The Custom House, the Four Courts, King's Inns in Dublin and Emo Court in Co...
the architect, in London. In 1774 Malton received a premium from the Society of Arts. He entered the Royal Academy
Royal Academy
The Royal Academy of Arts is an art institution based in Burlington House on Piccadilly, London. The Royal Academy of Arts has a unique position in being an independent, privately funded institution led by eminent artists and architects whose purpose is to promote the creation, enjoyment and...
and in 1782 gained a gold medal for his design for a theatre. In 1773 he sent the Academy a view of Covent Garden
Covent Garden
Covent Garden is a district in London on the eastern fringes of the West End, between St. Martin's Lane and Drury Lane. It is associated with the former fruit and vegetable market in the central square, now a popular shopping and tourist site, and the Royal Opera House, which is also known as...
, and was afterwards a constant exhibitor, chiefly of views of London streets and buildings, drawn in Indian ink and tinted. In these there is little attempt at pictorial effect, but their extreme accuracy in the architectural details renders them of great interest and value as topographical records. They are enlivened with groups of figures, in which Malton is said to have been assisted by Francis Wheatley
Francis Wheatley (painter)
Francis Wheatley was an English portrait and landscape painter.-Life and work:Wheatley was born at Wild Court, Covent Garden, London, the son of a master tailor. He studied at William Shipley's drawing school and the Royal Academy, and won several prizes from the Society of Arts...
.
After leaving Ireland, Malton appears to have always lived in London - with the exception of a brief stay at Bath in 1780. From 1783 to 1789 he resided in Conduit Street (London), and at an evening drawing class which he held there, received as pupils Thomas Girtin
Thomas Girtin
Thomas Girtin was an English painter and etcher. A friend and rival of J. M. W. Turner, Girtin played a key role in establishing watercolour as a reputable art form.-Biography:...
and young J M W Turner, whose father brought him to be taught perspective. Turner paid tribute to him in later life by saying "My real master was Tom Malton".
In 1791 Malton removed to Great Titchfield Street
Great Titchfield Street
Great Titchfield Street is a street in the West End of London. It runs north from Oxford Street to Greenwell Street, just short of the busy A501 Marylebone Road and Euston Road. It lies within the informally designated London area of Fitzrovia. In administrative terms it is in the City of Westminster...
, and finally, in 1796, to Long Acre. He made a few of the drawings for Watts's "Seats of the Nobility and Gentry" published in 1779, and executed some large aquatint
Aquatint
Aquatint is an intaglio printmaking technique, a variant of etching.Intaglio printmaking makes marks on the matrix that are capable of holding ink. The inked plate is passed through a printing press together with a sheet of paper, resulting in a transfer of the ink to the paper...
s of buildings in both London and Bath, being one of the first to avail himself of the newly introduced art of aquatinta for the purpose of multiplying copies of his views. He also painted some scenes for Covent Garden Theatre.
In 1792 Malton published the work by which he is now best known, 'A Picturesque Tour through the Cities of London and Westminster', illustrated with a hundred aquatint plates. Between 1798-1800 he produced "Views from Cambridge
Cambridge
The city of Cambridge is a university town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It lies in East Anglia about north of London. Cambridge is at the heart of the high-technology centre known as Silicon Fen – a play on Silicon Valley and the fens surrounding the...
", and at the time of his death was engaged upon a similar series of views of Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
, some of which appeared in parts in 1802, and were reissued with others in 1810.
Malton died in Long Acre, London on 7 March 1804, leaving a widow and six children. His portrait, painted by Gilbert Stuart
Gilbert Stuart
Gilbert Charles Stuart was an American painter from Rhode Island.Gilbert Stuart is widely considered to be one of America's foremost portraitists...
, was engraved by William Barney in 1806. A portrait of his son Charles, when a child, drawn by Sir Thomas Lawrence
Thomas Lawrence
Thomas Lawrence may refer to:*Sir Thomas Lawrence, British artist, President of Royal Academy*Thomas Lawrence , mayor of colonial Philadelphia*T. E. Lawrence, "Lawrence of Arabia"*Thomas Lawrence , U.S. politician...
, was engraved by F C Lewis
Frederick Christian Lewis
Frederick Christian Lewis was an English etcher, aquatint and stipple engraver, landscape and portrait painter and the brother of Charles Lewis . He studied under J. O. Stadler and in the schools of the Royal Academy and aquatinted most of Thomas Girtin's etchings of Paris, 1803...
.
Malton's brother James Malton
James Malton
James Malton was an Irish engraver and watercolourist, who once taught geometry and perspective and worked as a draughtsman in the office of the celebrated Irish architect James Gandon...
was also a notable artist, draughtsman and engraver.
Works
Works by Malton can be found in the UK Government art collection and the Victoria and Albert MuseumVictoria and Albert Museum
The Victoria and Albert Museum , set in the Brompton district of The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, London, England, is the world's largest museum of decorative arts and design, housing a permanent collection of over 4.5 million objects...
in London; the Victoria Art Gallery
Victoria Art Gallery
The Victoria Art Gallery is free public art museum in Bath, Somerset, England.The building was designed in 1897 by John McKean Brydon, and has been designated as a Grade II listed building. The exterior of the building includes a statue of Queen Victoria, by A. C. Lucchesi, and friezes of...
in Bath, Somerset; the State Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg, Russia etc.
Artwork (selected)
- The Arsenal Cannon Foundery in the Litanie, St. Petersburg (1790 aquatint)
- The Banqueting House and the Privy Garden, Whitehall, London (1796 watercolour)
- Old Palace yard, Westminster (Colour aquatint - exhibited 1796)
- New palace yard, Westminster (Colour aquatint)
- Westminster Bridge (Monochrome aquatint)
- Staircase to The Hall of Christ Church College, Oxford (1802 aquatint engraving)
External links
- Works by Thomas Malton (Artnet)
- Thomas Malton Aquatints (Heatons)
- Works by Thmas malton (Government Art Collection)