William Etty

[Judith and Holofernes, triptych]

oil on canvas

Etty mixed bitumen with his paints in order to intensify the darker tones. Unfortunately this has led to his paintings deterioating badly.

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1787 - 1849.

Painter of classical and historical subjects. Born in York, the son of a baker. He worked as a printers apprentice from 1798 - 1805. In 1807 he entered the RA Schools. Success was slow in coming and some of his nude studies scandalised Victorian sensibilities. In 1848 he retired to York and died there a year later.