(1743 - 1818)
Painter George Cuit [Cuitt] the elder was born at Moulton, in Yorkshire; the son of a builder. Early in life he was employed by Sir Thomas Dundas of Aske Hall to draw portraits of his children. In 1769 Dundas sent Cuit to study painting in Italy. The young painter returned to England in 1775 and received further commissions from Dundas. He first exhibited at the Royal Academy in London in 1776 and continued to show his work there until 1778, but Cuit decided against moving to London on account of his poor health. However, he remained industrious and Lord Mulgrave of Mulgrave Castle commissioned a series of views of ports on the Yorkshire coast. Cuit died in Richmond, Yorkshire, at about the age of 74, shortly after the death of his wife.
