William Etty

William Etty (10 March,1787 – 13 November, 1849) was an English painter, best known for his paintings of nudes. He was born at York. In accordance with the wishes of his father he served seven years of apprenticeship to a printer of Hull. He was, however, enabled to prosecute his studies in painting through the generosity of his uncle, William Etty, who in 1806 invited him to London.

In 1807 he entered the Royal Academy School, studying under Henry Fuseli, and he also studied privately for a year under Sir Thomas Lawrence, whose influence for some time dominated his art. A statue of Etty, erected in 1911, stands in front of the York Art Gallery in his home town.

Additional training

He copied a great deal from the old masters in the National Gallery and was a constant student in the Life School of the Academy, even after he had become an Academician. He paid a brief visit to Paris and Florence in 1816, and in 1822 he took a longer journey to Italy, spending most of his time in Venice. From his studies of the Venetian masters he acquired that excellence in colour for which his works are chiefly known.

Works

His works are exhibited extensively in major British galleries. On his return to England in 1824, his "Pandora Crowned by the Seasons" was much applauded, and he was made a member of the National Academy in 1828. From this time he was very successful and attained a good competence. He resided in London until 1848, but on account of failing health he retired to York, where he died.

Etty painted very unequally. His work at its best possesses great charm of colour, especially in the glowing, but thoroughly realistic, flesh tints. The composition is good, but his drawing is sometimes faulty, and his work usually lacks life and originality. He often endeavoured to inculcate moral lessons by his pictures. He himself considered his best works to be "The Combat," the three "Judith" pictures, "Beniah, David's Chief Captain" (all in the National Gallery of Scotland, Edinburgh, "Ulysses and the Sirens" (Manchester Gallery), and the three pictures of Joan of Arc." He is also represented in the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, and in English provincial museums, and in the Metropolitan Museum, New York, by "The Three Graces", considered by many his masterpiece.

Etty is also credited with the design, or at least the decoration, of Holy Trinity church in Sunderland, a "Grade I" listed building.cite web
url = http://www.tomorrows-history.com/CommunityProjects/PG0100060001/Holy%20Trinity.htm
accessdate = 2007-04-07
title = "tomorrows-history.com" - Church of the Holy Trinity] cite web
url = http://www.sunderland.gov.uk/libraries/Leaflets/Old%20Parish%20Church.pdf
accessdate = 2007-04-07
title = Local Studies Centre Factsheet No. 3 - Old Sunderland Parish Church
author = Sunderland Public Library Service
format=PDF] cite web
url = http://www.bbc.co.uk/wear/content/image_galleries/holy_trinity_church_gallery.shtml?4
title = Holy Trinity Church - photo gallery (image 4)
author = BBC Wear Online
accessdate = 2007-04-07]

William Etty the painter was NOT same William Etty who was the architect of Holy Trinity Sunderland (built 1719)(and many others). Their dates are different. William Etty painter = 1787- 1849William Etty architect = c.1675 - 1734 (ref: Georgian Architecture By James Stevens Curl, James CurlPublished by David & Charles, 2002ISBN 0715302272, 9780715302279)

References

*
* "Autobiography" in "Art Journal" (London, 1849)
* Alexander Gilchrist, "Life of William Etty" (London, 1855) ISBN 1428640339
* William Cosmo Monkhouse, "Etty," "Dictionary of National Biography" (London, 1889) ISBN 1402170661

External links

* Etty's [http://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/picture-of-month/displaypicture.asp?venue=7&id=136 "The Judgement of Paris" (c. 1825-6)] at the [http://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/ladylever/index.asp Lady Lever Art Gallery]
* [http://www.phryne.com/artists/11-81-09.HTM Phryne's list of paintings in accessible collections in the UK]