George Augustus Williams (4 May 1814 – 26 May 1901) was an English landscape painter during the

Victorian era In the history of the United Kingdom and the British Empire, the Victorian era was the period of Queen Victoria's reign, from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. The era followed the Georgian period and preceded the Edwardia ...

, and a member of the

Williams family of painters The Williams family of painters, also known as the Barnes School, is a family of prominent 19th-century Victorian landscape artists known for their paintings of the British countryside, coasts and mountains. They are represented by the artist Edw ...

Biography

George Augustus Williams was born on 4 May 1814 in London. He was the third son of the painter Edward Williams (1781–1855) and Ann Hildebrandt (c.1780–1851), and a member of the

, who were related to such famous artists as James Ward, R.A. and

George Morland George Morland (26 June 176329 October 1804) was an English painter. His early work was influenced by Francis Wheatley, but after the 1790s he came into his own style. His best compositions focus on rustic scenes: farms and hunting; smugglers a ...

. His father was a well-known landscape artist, who taught him how to paint; otherwise he received no formal instruction. George Augustus painted riverscapes of the

Thames The River Thames ( ), known alternatively in parts as the River Isis, is a river that flows through southern England including London. At , it is the longest river entirely in England and the second-longest in the United Kingdom, after the R ...

, moonlit landscapes, seascapes and views of

Kent Kent is a county in South East England and one of the home counties. It borders Greater London to the north-west, Surrey to the west and East Sussex to the south-west, and Essex to the north across the estuary of the River Thames; it faces ...

, Wales and elsewhere. After having four children, George and Caroline moved to

Barnes, London Barnes () is a district in south London, part of the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, England. It takes up the extreme north-east of the borough, and as such is the closest part of the borough to central London. It is centred west sou ...

, within a stone's throw of the Thames, where they lived for more than fifty years. George undoubtedly inherited his artistic talent, as did his siblings, from his father. His work, though, is distinct from that of the others in his family. His paintings were mainly exhibited at Suffolk Street as well as at the

Royal Academy The Royal Academy of Arts (RA) is an art institution based in Burlington House on Piccadilly in London. Founded in 1768, it has a unique position as an independent, privately funded institution led by eminent artists and architects. Its pur ...

from 1841 onwards, the British Institution and elsewhere. Barnes Old Cemetery, headstone of George Augustus Williams

George's wife Caroline died sometime before the 1861 U.K. census was taken, after which his daughter, named Caroline also, became his housekeeper, foregoing marriage to take care of her father. He died forty years later at the age of 87 on 26 May 1901 in

and is buried nearby in

Barnes Cemetery Barnes Cemetery, also known as Barnes Old Cemetery, is a disused cemetery in Barnes, in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. It is located off Rocks Lane on Barnes Common. History The cemetery was established in 1854 on two acres of san ...

Marriage and children

George married Caroline Smith (b. 1814), the daughter of Abraham and Charlotte Smith, on 19 February 1835 at St. Pancras Church in Camden, London. They had five children. and
# Walter Williams (1834–1906), born 29 November 1834 in London; and died 14 April 1906 in Richmond, Surrey. #

Caroline Fanny Williams Caroline Fanny Williams (1836–1921) was an English landscape painter during the Victorian era, and a member of the Williams family of painters. Caroline Fanny Williams was born on 25 December 1836 in St. Marylebone, London. Her father George ...

(1836–1921), born 5 December 1836 in St Marylebone, London; and died 30 December 1921 in Forest Hill, London. #Francis Augustus Williams (1837–?), born 26 May 1837 in London; but nothing more is known about him. #Frederick Charles Williams (1840–?), born 1840 in the Islington district of London; and probably died sometime before 1881. #Albert Williams, probably died young, but nothing about him is known for sure.

The Williams Family

George Augustus Williams was born into an artist family that is sometimes referred to as the

Barnes School Barnes School, Deolali, is a boarding school in west India. It was established in 1925, on the basis of a 1718 original foundation. It is a private co-educational prep school. It is an Anglican school, founded in 1925, under the auspices o ...

. His father and five surviving brothers (listed below) were all noted Victorian landscape painters. Three of the sons of Edward Williams changed their last names to protect the identity of their art. * Edward Williams (father) *

Edward Charles Williams Edward Charles Williams (10 July 1807 – 25 July 1881) was an English landscape painter during the Victorian Era, and a member of the Williams family of painters. Early life, family and education Edward Charles Williams was born in Lond ...

Henry John Boddington Henry John Boddington (1811 – 11 April 1865) was an English landscape painter during the Victorian era, and a member of the Williams family of painters. Biography Henry John Boddington was born Henry John Williams on 14 October 1811 in L ...

Arthur Gilbert Arthur Gilbert (19 December 1819 – 21 April 1895) was an English landscape painter during the Victorian era, and a member of the Williams family of painters. Biography Arthur Gilbert was born Arthur Gilbert Frederick Williams on 19 Decem ...

Sidney Richard Percy Sidney Richard Percy (22 March 1822 – 13 April 1886) was an English landscape painter during the Victorian era, and a member of the Williams family of painters. Biography Life and career Sidney Richard Percy was born Sidney Richard Percy Wi ...

Alfred Walter Williams Alfred Walter Williams (18 July 1824 – 16 December 1905) was an English landscape painter during the Victorian era, and a member of the Williams family of painters. Biography Alfred Walter Williams was born on 18 July 1824 in Southwark, Lo ...

Notes

References

External links

*Paintings by George Augustus Williams in British Museums a
Art UK
{{DEFAULTSORT:Williams, George Augustus 1814 births 1901 deaths 19th-century English painters English male painters English landscape painters 19th-century English male artists