William Shakespeare Burton
Encyclopedia
William Shakespeare Burton (1 June 1824 – 26 January 1916) was an English
genre and historical painter
of the Victorian era
. He is now remembered mainly for The Wounded Cavalier (1855).
To paint his most famous work, Burton was said to have dug a hole in the ground to stand in, so that he could paint the grass and ferns at eye level. The work shows a scene from the English Civil War
: a Cavalier
courier has been ambushed and wounded, and is comforted by a Puritan
maiden. Her jealous suitor, carrying a large Bible, looks on.
The painting was shown at the Royal Academy
show of 1856, through a strange set of circumstances. Burton's picture was reportedly left in a remote room with its face turned to the wall (by porters who, Burton believed, had not been sufficiently bribed). Academician A. S. Cope found the picture, brought it to the hanging committee's attention, and even withdrew one of his own works from the show to make room for Burton's, which was hung next to William Holman Hunt
's The Scapegoat
.
The Wounded Cavalier was the artist's single flirtation with the Pre-Raphaelite
movement of the 1850s; in later years Burton mainly devoted himself to painting religious subjects.
Burton's grandfather was a printer, and his father was William Evans Burton
, a comic actor and playwright who found popular success in the United States — while leaving his wife and son behind in London, with little money. An only child, the younger Burton worked at copying prints as a teenager. The dramatist and critic Tom Taylor
was his sponsor and patron. Taylor helped the teen find work at the magazine Punch
, a job designing capitals for illustrations (which provided much-needed income).
W. S. Burton was educated at King's College and the Royal Academy School. At the latter institution he won a gold medal in 1852 for a painting on the subject of Samson and Delilah
. Though plagued by poor health and personal difficulties, Burton remained active as a painter into his eighties. His wife Mina Elizabeth Burton was the author of a novel titled Ruling the Planets (1891).
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
genre and historical painter
Painting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
of the Victorian era
Victorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
. He is now remembered mainly for The Wounded Cavalier (1855).
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
: a Cavalier
Cavalier
Cavalier was the name used by Parliamentarians for a Royalist supporter of King Charles I and son Charles II during the English Civil War, the Interregnum, and the Restoration...
courier has been ambushed and wounded, and is comforted by a Puritan
Puritan
The Puritans were a significant grouping of English Protestants in the 16th and 17th centuries. Puritanism in this sense was founded by some Marian exiles from the clergy shortly after the accession of Elizabeth I of England in 1558, as an activist movement within the Church of England...
maiden. Her jealous suitor, carrying a large Bible, looks on.
The painting was shown at 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...
show of 1856, through a strange set of circumstances. Burton's picture was reportedly left in a remote room with its face turned to the wall (by porters who, Burton believed, had not been sufficiently bribed). Academician A. S. Cope found the picture, brought it to the hanging committee's attention, and even withdrew one of his own works from the show to make room for Burton's, which was hung next to William Holman Hunt
William Holman Hunt
William Holman Hunt OM was an English painter, and one of the founders of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood.-Biography:...
's The Scapegoat
The Scapegoat (painting)
The Scapegoat is a painting by William Holman Hunt which depicts the "scapegoat" described in the Book of Leviticus. He started painting on the shore of the Dead Sea, and continued in his studio in London...
.
The Wounded Cavalier was the artist's single flirtation with the Pre-Raphaelite
Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood
The Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood was a group of English painters, poets, and critics, founded in 1848 by William Holman Hunt, John Everett Millais and Dante Gabriel Rossetti...
movement of the 1850s; in later years Burton mainly devoted himself to painting religious subjects.
Burton's grandfather was a printer, and his father was William Evans Burton
William Evans Burton
William Evans Burton , who often went by the nickname Billy, was an English actor, playwright, theater manager and publisher who relocated to the United States.-Early life:...
, a comic actor and playwright who found popular success in the United States — while leaving his wife and son behind in London, with little money. An only child, the younger Burton worked at copying prints as a teenager. The dramatist and critic Tom Taylor
Tom Taylor
Tom Taylor was an English dramatist, critic, biographer, public servant, and editor of Punch magazine...
was his sponsor and patron. Taylor helped the teen find work at the magazine Punch
Punch (magazine)
Punch, or the London Charivari was a British weekly magazine of humour and satire established in 1841 by Henry Mayhew and engraver Ebenezer Landells. Historically, it was most influential in the 1840s and 50s, when it helped to coin the term "cartoon" in its modern sense as a humorous illustration...
, a job designing capitals for illustrations (which provided much-needed income).
W. S. Burton was educated at King's College and the Royal Academy School. At the latter institution he won a gold medal in 1852 for a painting on the subject of Samson and Delilah
Samson and Delilah
Samson and Delilah may refer to:*Samson, a Biblical figure*Delilah, a Biblical figure*Samson and Delilah, a Biblical narrative* Samson and Delilah , a painting by Peter Paul Rubens* Samson and Delilah, the club mascots of the Sunderland A.F.C...
. Though plagued by poor health and personal difficulties, Burton remained active as a painter into his eighties. His wife Mina Elizabeth Burton was the author of a novel titled Ruling the Planets (1891).
External links
- W S Burton online (ArtCyclopedia)