(1755 - 1834)
Book illustrator and painter Thomas Stothard was born in London. He entered the Royal Academy Schools in 1777 and was elected a Royal Academician in 1794. He also became librarian to the Academy in 1812 and was active in Academy affairs. Although a respected history painter, Stothard was better financially rewarded for his illustrations and designs, which included banknotes, jasperware reliefs and silverwork. Stothard’s later life was marred by tragedy. In 1801, his eldest son was killed in a shooting accident. In 1821, another son died and in the following year a third suffered a stroke. His wife and his close friend, John Flaxman, both died in 1824. Finally, he died at the age of 79, after being hit by a carriage and left incapacitated.
