GEORGE, THOMAS (fl. 1829-1840), miniature painter

is said to have been born at Fishguard, although the date of his birth is uncertain as the Fishguard parish registers are incomplete for that period. H. M. Vaughan suggested that he was the Thomas, son of Thomas George, mason, and Ann, his wife, who was christened at Fishguard 28 May 1810, but Basil Long suggests that he was born in 1790. The latter date may be considered more likely as George exhibited a portrait at the Royal Academy as early as 1829, and his work was exhibited there on five occasions between 1829 and 1838. He is said to have been living at Haverfordwest in 1824; it seems certain that he worked for some time in Pembrokeshire as he painted portraits of several members of the Harries of Tre-gwynt family. He was working in London in 1826, according to the evidence supplied by a miniature on ivory of Richard Bird at the Victoria and Albert Museum. This carefully painted miniature is signed 'Painted by T. George. London Oct. 1826.'

The late Sir Thomas Barry Jones possessed a miniature by George which was probably a self-portrait and which the artist gave shortly before his death to his brother Henry who lived at Fishguard. The National Museum of Wales has one miniature by him and three water-colour portraits by him and the British Museum has two lithographed portraits after George. Thomas George left England for Madeira for reasons of health and died there in 1840.

Author

• Megan Ellis, (1906 - 2001)

Sources

• Basil Long, British Miniaturists (1929)
• Western Mail, 22 December 1927

Additional Links

• Wikidata: Q20734451

Published date: 1959

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