Thomas Fairland

Fairland showed an early interest in drawing and practiced from nature in Kensington Gardens in London.

Turning his attention to line engraving, he became a pupil of Charles Warren but was more attracted by the new art of lithography in which he produced some very good works.

Other subjects lithographed included "The Misers" (after Quentin Matsys), "Napoleon crossing the Alps" (after Jacques-Louis David), "Imogene" (after Richard Westall), and various portraits.

He also worked with artist William Barraud to produce a volume called "The book of animals drawn from nature" (C. Tilt, 1846).

However, owing to the decline of lithography due to foreign competition and the vagaries of fashion, Fairland now devoted himself to portrait painting, and enjoyed the patronage of many eminent people including royalty.