William Etty English painter Date of Birth: 10.03.1787 Country: Great Britain

Biography of William Etty

William Etty was an English painter known for his remarkable use of color. The main theme of his work was the female nude. He was born into a large family of a miller and showed an interest in painting from an early age. In accordance with his father's wishes, Etty studied engraving in Hull for 7 years. He began his education by creating sketches of landscapes, copying various images, and drawings from printed publications.

In 1806, at the invitation of his uncle, who supported his desire to study painting, Etty moved to London. In 1807, he entered the Royal Academy of Arts, where his mentor became Henry Fuseli. In 1811, after many attempts, Etty's painting "Telemachus Rescuing Antiope" appeared on the wall of talented students' works at the Academy. During those years, the artist Thomas Lawrence had a significant influence on William Etty, with whom he lived during his studies in London. In 1816, Etty briefly visited Paris and Florence.

In 1820, his painting "Coral Finders," exhibited at the Royal Academy, attracted considerable attention. Even greater success came with the painting "The Arrival of Cleopatra in Cilicia," shown the following year. In 1822, he traveled to Italy, where he spent much of his time in Venice, studying the works of old Venetian masters such as Titian, Tintoretto, and Veronese, and gaining experience in working with color.

In 1840 and 1841, Etty made a pilgrimage to the Netherlands to study the paintings of Dutch artists, including Rubens, in the churches and public galleries of the country.