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Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Farington, George

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810674Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900, Volume 18 — Farington, George1889Albert Nicholson

FARINGTON, GEORGE (1752–1788), artist, born at Leigh in Lancashire, his baptism being recorded on 10 Nov. 1752, was fourth son of the Rev. William Farington, vicar of that place, afterwards rector of Warrington. He was for many years a student of the Royal Academy, and obtained the silver medal in 1779, and in 1780 he won the gold medal for the best historical picture, the subject being ‘The Caldron Scene from Macbeth.’ He had in his early studies been guided by his brother Joseph [q. v.], the landscape-painter, but his preference being decidedly for historical subjects he became a pupil of West. Alderman Boydell gave him many commissions, and for him he made several excellent drawings from the Houghton collection. In 1782 he went to India, practising his art with great success. When making studies for a grand picture of the court of the nabob of Moorshedabad, he contracted a severe illness, and died at that place a few days later in 1788.

[Pilkington's Dict. of Painters; Leigh registers, kindly examined by Rev. J. H. Stanning.]