J.B. Burgess

John Bagnold Burgess was born in London in 1829. He was best known for his paintings of historical and genre scenes, mainly set in Spain. He was the son of William Henry Burgess, a landscape painter to King William IV. His father died when he was ten years old but his artist training continued with William Charles Ross, the miniature painter and a friend of Burgess’ father. He attended James Mathews Leigh’s art school in Soho beginning in 1848. In 1849, he entered the Royal Academy Schools and won the first-class medal for life drawing. Then in 1850, he exhibited a picture at the Royal Academy. Beginning in 1852 until his death, Burgess was an annual contributor to the Academy’s exhibitions. Burgess began his career painting portraits and genre works before traveling to Spain in 1858 with his friend and fellow artist, Edwin Long. For the next thirty years or so, Burgess traveled to Spain every year often spending much time with Spanish peasants. These trips heavily influenced his work. Burgess died November 12, 1897 in his home in London.