Francis william warwick topham biography of rory

 

Francis William Warwick Topham was born in London in 1838.

He began studying art at an early age with his father, Francis W. Topham (1808-1877), one of England’s outstanding watercolor artists of the nineteenth century. He then studied at the Royal Academy Schools and at the Atelier Gleyre in Paris.

He lived and painted in both Italy and France.

 

Topham enjoyed working with his father, and both men traveled to Ireland in 1860 to paint.

​TOPHAM, FRANCIS WILLIAM (–), watercolour-painter, was born at Leeds, Yorkshire, on 15 April Early in life he was articled to.

​TOPHAM, FRANCIS WILLIAM (–), watercolour-painter, was born at Leeds, Yorkshire, on 15 April Early in life he was articled to.

Artist Biography: Francis William Topham was an English watercolourist and engraver.

Francis William Topham (Leeds 15 April – 31 March Córdoba) was an English watercolourist and engraver.

Their eldest son, Francis William Warwick (Frank) Topham (–) would also become a painter, and married Helen Lemon, daughter of Topham's friend, Mark.

Frank McKelvey was an Irish painter born in in Belfast, the son of a painter and decorator.

They both visited Italy in 1863, particularly Rome and Capri. This was the first of several visits to Italy for the younger Topham. In 1865 he visited Ravenna with Egron Sellif Lungren (1815-1875) and Frank Dillon (1823-1909).

Both Lundgren and Dillon were Orientalist painters, fascinated with North Africa. Topham, however remained devoted to Italy, a country which strongly influenced the course of his life’s work. From this period on, he began painting scenes of Italy, which were to remain his favorite subjects.

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