Painters of England. Famous English Artists - Famous English artists

25.04.2019

Joseph Turner

Joseph Turner, the greatest English romantic landscape painter, was born in Covent Garden, London, on the 23rd of April in 1775. He was the son of a fashionable barber. He started drawing and painting as a small boy. His father used to sell the boy’s drawings to his customers. In such a way he earned money which his father paid for his lessons in art. At the age of 14 he entered the Royal Academy School. His water-colors were exhibited at the Royal Academy from the time he was fifteen. At 18 he had set up his own studio. Turner worked at first in water-colours, then in oils.

Between 1802 and 1809 Turner painted a series of sea-pieces, among them “Sun Rising in Mist”. The masterpieces of this period are “The Lake of Geneva”, “Frosty Morning”, “Crossing the Brook”, etc. In 1819 Turner got out on his first visit to Italy. During the journey he made about 1500 drawings and in the next few years he painted a series of pictures inspired by what he had seen. Turner was the master of the air and wind, rain and sunshine, horizon, ships and sea. He dissolved the forms of his landscape in the play of light and shade, he anticipated the work of French Impressionist paintings. During his life Turner painted some hundreds of paintings and some thousands of water-colors and drawings. On his death Turner’s own entire collection of paintings and drawings was willed to the nation and they are in the National and the Tate Galleries.

Thomas Gainsborough

Thomas Gainsborough was a master of English school of painting. He was a portraitist and a landscape painter. He was born in Sudbury in 1727 and was the son of a merchant. His father sent him to London to study arts. He spent 8 years working and studying in London. There he got acquainted with the Flemish traditional school of painting. In his portraits green and blue colors predominate. He was the first British painter who painted British native countryside. He painted a wagon of hay, a poor cottage, poor peasants.

His works of landscape contain much poetry and music. His best works are “Blue Boy”, “The Portrait of the Duchess of Beaufort”, “Sara Siddons” and others. The particular discovery of Gainsborough was the creation of a form of art in which the characters and the background form a single unity. The landscape is not kept in the background, but in most cases man and nature are fused in a single whole through the atmospheric harmony of mood. Gainsborough emphasized that the natural background for his characters should be nature itself. His works, painted in clear and transparent tones, had a significant influence on the artists of the English school. He was in advance of his time. His art became a forerunner of the Romantic Movement.

John Constable

John Constable, one of the greatest landscape painters, was born in Sufford, on June 11,1776. He was the son of a wealthy miller. He began to take interest in landscape painting while he was at grammar school. His father did not favor art as a profession. As a boy Constable worked almost secretly, painting in the cottage of an amateur painter. His keen artistic interest was such that his father allowed him to visit London in 1795, where he began to study painting. In 1799 Constable entered the Royal Academy School in London. He was the first landscape painter who considered that every painter should make his sketches direct from nature, that is, working in the open air. Constable's art developed slowly.

He tried to earn his living by portraits. His heart was never in this and he achieved no popularity. Constable was a realist. He put into his cattle landscape, horses, the people working there. He put the smiling meadows, the sparkle of the sun on rain, or the stormy and uncertain clouds. The most notable works of Constable are “Flatford Mill”, “The White Horse”, “The Hay Wain”, “Waterloo Bridge”, “From Whitehall stairs” and others. In England Constable never received the recognition that he felt he was due. The French were the first to acclaim Constable publicly. His influence upon foreign painting schools has been powerful. Constable may truly be considered the father of modern landscape painting.

Translation of the topic into Russian:

Joseph Turner

Joseph Turner - the great English landscape painter - was born in Covent Garden in London, April 23, 1775. He was the son of a fashionable hairdresser at that time. As a boy he began to draw. His father sold the boy's drawings to his visitors. In this way he earned money, which was used to pay for his art lessons. At the age of 14 he entered school at the Royal Academy. His watercolor drawings have been exhibited at the Royal Academy since he was fifteen. At the age of 18 he created his own studio. At first he worked in watercolors and then in oils. Between 1802 and 1809 Turner painted a series seascapes, among them - “The Sun Rising in the Fog.”

Masterpieces of this period are considered: “Lake Geneva”, “Frosty Morning”, “Crossing the Stream” and others. In 1819 Turner returned from his first trip to Italy. During the trip, he created about 1,500 drawings and the following year, inspired by what he saw, he painted a series of paintings. Turner was a master of air and wind, rain and sunlight, the horizon, ships and sea. The contours of his landscapes dissolved in the play of light and shadows, in this he was the predecessor of the French impressionists. Throughout his life, Turner painted hundreds of paintings and thousands of watercolors and drawings. After his death, the collection of his paintings, according to his will, passed to the National Gallery and the Tate Gallery.

Thomas Gainsborough

Thomas Gainsborough was a master of the English school of painting. He painted portraits and landscapes. He was born in Sudbury in 1727, the son of a merchant. His father sent him to London to study painting. He spent 8 years in London working and studying. There he became acquainted with the Flemish traditional school of painting. His portraits are dominated by green and blue colors. He was the first English artist to depict nature and countryside Great Britain. He depicted a haystack, a poor house, poor peasants.

His landscapes are filled with poetry and music. His best works- “The Blue Boy”, “Portrait of the Duchess Beaufer”, “Sarah Siddons” and others. Gainsborough's important discovery was his creation of a form of painting where the characters and the landscape form a single whole. The landscape is not just a background, but in most cases man and nature merge into one in an atmosphere of harmony of moods. Gainsborough emphasized that the natural background for characters there must be nature itself. His works, executed in clear and transparent colors, had a significant influence on the artists of English painting. He was ahead of his time. His art became a harbinger of the Romantic movement.

John Constable

John Constable, one of the most famous landscape painters, was born in Safford, June 11, 1776. He was the son of a wealthy miller. He began to be interested in painting in elementary school. His father did not approve of art as a profession. As a boy, Costable worked in secret, painting in the home of an amateur artist. His interest in painting convinced his father to send him to London in 1795, where he began to study painting. In 1799, Constable entered school at the Royal Academy in London. He was the first of the landscape painters who believed that it was necessary to make sketches from life, that is, to work in the open air.

Constable's skill developed gradually. He began to make a living by painting portraits. His heart was never in it, and therefore he did not achieve popularity. Constable was a realist. On his canvases he depicted cattle, horses and people working there. He painted meadows glistening with dew, sparks of the sun in drops of rain and harsh thunderclouds. Constable's most famous works are “The Mill at Flatford”, “ White horse”, “A Wagon of Hay”, “Waterloo Bridge”, “From the Steps of Whitehall” and others. In England, Constable did not receive the recognition he rightfully expected. The French were the first to publicly recognize Constable. His influence on foreign schools of painting was enormous. Constable can rightfully be recognized as the founder of the landscape genre.

Collectors of antique paintings are conservative in their preferences. Of greatest interest are Italian masters Renaissance, old Dutch and German painters, French impressionists and some others. At the same time, artists from other countries and eras often deserve no less close attention. Let's look at the paintings of England.

Few people would call English painting one of the country's treasures, and in vain. Among the artists of England there are many interesting and original masters, whose creations adorn the best art galleries in the world and the richest private collections of art objects.

However, among wide circles of art lovers, England is undeservedly relegated to the background. Not everyone can name at least three English painters without hesitation. We will try to eliminate this injustice by offering a brief overview of ancient English painting from the moment of its formation into a separate, independent phenomenon of world art.

The origins of English painting.

Until the 17th century, one could only talk about English painting conditionally. There were miniatures or frescoes, but the English looked pale against the background of the Italian or Dutch schools. Painting was not encouraged in the country - the strict and stern Puritans who dominated the ideological sphere did not welcome any kind of “decoration”.

It is not surprising that the authors of the first English paintings were not Englishmen. The history of English painting should begin with the works of the great Dutchmen Rubens and Van Dyck, who gave a powerful impetus to the development of English fine art. But, if Rubens’s execution of murals for Whitehall Palace in 1629 became for the artist, in essence, only a brilliant addition to his career as a diplomat (he was the head of the embassy of the Spanish king in negotiations with Charles I of England), then Anthony Van Dyck was the court artist of Charles and received the nobility and is buried in London's famous St. Paul's Cathedral.

Van Dyck and the Dutch Cornelis Ketel, Daniel Mitens, the Germans von der Faes (Peter Lely) and Gottfried Kniller (Sir Godfrey Kneller, Cromwell's favorite) who came to England after him were portrait painters. Their paintings are distinguished by brilliant craftsmanship and subtlety of psychological observation. Their services were highly appreciated. They were all ennobled, and Neller was even buried in Westminster Abbey.

The dominant genre of English painting was the ceremonial portrait. Historical and mythological subjects occupied a secondary place, and there were only a few landscape painters.

The English in the 17th century were forced to cede the first roles to brilliant foreigners. But even among them original masters appeared. Thus, William Dobson (1610-1646) began by copying paintings by Titian and Van Dyck, but now Scottish lords proudly display ancient paintings in their castles, many of which are portraits of their ancestors by Dobson.

The 18th century is the “golden age” of English painting.

A real breakthrough in the visual arts, which removed the stigma of “eternal students” from the British, was the work of William Hogarth (1697-1764).

He opened the “golden” 18th century of English painting. He was an innovator and a realist in every way. He painted sailors, beggars, his own servants, and women of easy virtue. His individual paintings or cycles are sometimes sharply satirical, sometimes deeply sad, but always very lively and realistic. And the bright cheerfulness of “The Girl with Shrimp” (1745) simply makes you smile back. This portrait is unanimously considered by both amateurs and critics to be one of the most interesting and vital portraits of the era.

Hogarth also wrote historical subjects and was a master of engraving. He is the author of the essay “Analysis of Beauty,” dedicated to the questions of the goals and meaning of fine art (1753).

It was precisely from Hogarth that the enlightened society of Europe began to give English painting its worthy place, English paintings became in demand, and the artist himself acquired continental fame.

The second major master, whose works should be paid attention to by connoisseurs of antique paintings, was Joshua Reynolds (1723-1792), the first president of the Royal Academy of Arts. He studied in England and spent three years in Italy, where Michelangelo became his idol. Portrait remained the main genre in which the artist worked.

His creations are distinguished by great diversity - from ceremonial portraits of the nobility filled with perfection and stiffness to charming images of children (just look at the wonderful “Girl with Strawberries”, 1771).

The master also gave a gift to the indispensable mythological subjects, but his characters are by no means academic. Just look at the playful Venus (“Cupid Unties the Belt of Venus,” 1788) or the childishly serious troublemaker Hercules (“Infant Hercules Strangling the Serpent,” 1786).

Reynolds was also an outstanding art theorist, who left many works from which generations of painters learned. At the end of his life, the artist suffered a terrible blow - he lost his sight.

The third great master of this period was Thomas Gainsborough (1727-1788), Reynolds' constant rival. Gainsborough, inferior to his opponent in the thoroughness of his brushwork and refinement of technique, surpassed him in originality and spontaneity in conveying nature.

It must be said that Gainsborough took up portraiture only because this genre, unlike his favorite landscape, made it possible to live comfortably. However, his portraits were strikingly different from traditional ones. People really live in them, they are immersed in their inner world, and not posing or “immersed in thoughts about great things.” That's why Gainsborough has so many family and children's portraits - customers preferred to see their loved ones as they are.

Perhaps the most famous masterpiece Gainsborough - "The Boy in Blue" (1770). The subtle rendering of the inner world of a calm, dignified young man, the magnificent color scheme - all this puts Gainsborough among the greatest portrait painters of Europe of the 18th century. Over the years, the artist’s painting style becomes more and more free, light and broad, evoking associations with much later impressionism.

However, the master’s favorite genre has always been landscape. Even in his portrait works, the background plays a large, sometimes almost equal role. Gainsborough's brushes include many types of English nature, the most famous of which are “Cornar Forest” of the early period of creativity (1748) and “The Watering Place” (circa 1774-1777).

circa 1774-1777)

When talking about the English landscape, one cannot fail to mention Richard Wilson (1714-1782). He colored the paintings, which were quite traditional in composition and subjects, with bright, vibrant tones. Therefore, his canvases seemed too natural to his contemporaries, and there were few people willing to buy his paintings. The master received well-deserved recognition only a century after his death. Among other landscape painters, we can highlight Gainsborough's followers George Moreland (1763-1804) and John Crome (1768-1821), the founder of the “Norwich” school, which became famous in the 19th century.

In the second half of the century, a historical direction emerged in English painting, but in a truly outstanding masters Little worked in the historical genre. Buying historical painting was considered a kind of patriotic duty.

The turn of the XVIII-XIX centuries. New trends in English painting

The end of the 18th century was marked by great upheavals. The French Revolution and the Napoleonic era brought new heroes to the forefront - military men, politicians, and fighters. Portraiture and history painting acquire exceptional importance. But, if some images of statesmen are traditionally full of dignity and importance, then others bear the imprint of the unbridled romanticism that dominated literature at that time. The most prominent representative of the first direction was Thomas Lawrence, the second - George Dow.

The “brilliant but cold” (as art critics put it) art of Lawrence (1769-1830) brought him enormous popularity on the continent. His merits were also recognized by his homeland - long years he was president of the Royal Academy of Arts. His portraits are distinguished by the careful depiction of draperies, clothes, the meaningfulness of the characters’ faces, their sense of self-worth and superiority. Even in the portrait of the shockingly famous, eccentric and capricious lady Caroline Lamb, Byron’s lover, whose antics were legendary, we see a calm, thoughtful woman.

For this reason, among Lawrence’s customers there are so many persons from the noblest families of Europe, kings and princesses. Often, to please the client, the artist remade portraits, giving the faces the proper majesty.

The works of George Dow (1789-1829), on the contrary, were distinguished by emotionality and liveliness. According to A.G. Venetsianov, Doe’s portraits are not portraits, but living faces. The artist created his best canvases in Russia, where, at the invitation of Alexander I, he painted portraits for the Military Gallery of the Winter Palace. Dow painted many portraits of the most prominent military leaders of Russia, and his portrait of Alexander I is considered the best image of the emperor.

His canvases were painted quickly, literally in three sessions, and had an amazing resemblance to the original. The customers were absolutely delighted. Pushkin described Doe's work in excellent words. The master's authority was so great that he was elected a member of the art academies of St. Petersburg, London, Vienna, Paris, Florence, Dresden, Munich, and Stockholm.

English landscape painting received particular development at the turn of the century. British masters of this genre are taking leading roles in Europe. The greatest influence on later artists was John Constable (1776-1837). He had never been abroad and only wrote about good old England. He depicted views of his homeland with utmost authenticity. The master mastered color and chiaroscuro so masterfully that, according to contemporaries, in his paintings you can literally feel the freshness of the wind and hear the rustling of leaves in the treetops.

The end of the 18th century was marked by the widespread use of watercolors. Water paints were often used in England before, but it was now that watercolor was appreciated. Constable was an excellent watercolorist, but true perfection in watercolor was achieved by another luminary of the English landscape - Joseph William Turner (1775-1851). His elements were the sea and air, the two most rewarding subjects for the efforts of a watercolorist, the elements are swift, capricious and changeable.

Many of Turner's works are painted in oils, but he never betrayed his favorite elements. Even in quite traditional images of architectural monuments, the sky and water are one of the main characters. All the artist’s paintings are full of light effects, and even specific objects convey nature as much as they serve as carriers of bright color solutions and create the overall mood of the picture. One of the most characteristic in this regard and, perhaps, the most expressive of his paintings is “Fire at Sea” (1834).

Turner's contribution to the world of fine art is not limited to his own paintings. During the Franco-Prussian War, the future famous Claude Monet, Alfred Sisley and Camille Pissarro left France and went to London to study the work of English landscape painters. They were most influenced by the works of Turner, whose desire to often sacrifice details, but to create the overall emotional mood of the picture through the play of color and freedom of stroke, later became one of the fundamental principles of impressionism. Therefore, Turner can rightfully be considered one of the forerunners of this great movement.

Mid-19th century. Searching for the new in the old

The second half of the 19th century was characterized by a number of critics as a period of stagnation in English painting. The same opinion was shared by a very popular group of young artists at one time, who organized the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood in the late 40s. Its members called for the rejection of dead traditions, conventions, academicism contemporary art and a return to the direct and sincere painting of the period “before Raphael.”

In the work of members of the Brotherhood, the desire to follow the canons is clearly noticeable early Renaissance. This was expressed in everything from the plot, the style of writing with special attention to details and deep elaboration of color, and to the requirement to paint only from life and directly onto canvas. They even tried to prepare canvases and paints according to medieval recipes.

The rebellion of young painters against the canons, their courage soon aroused rejection from the prim art community. However, the active support of the authoritative critic John Ruskin changed the attitude of art lovers towards the Brotherhood.

The most notable figures of the Brotherhood are Dante Gabriel Rossetti (1828-1882) and John Everett Millais (1829-1896). They are the authors of the most characteristic paintings for the Brotherhood - “The Death of Ophelia” by Millet and numerous portraits of Rossetti’s beloved Jane Morris in the form of the mythical Proserpina, Astarte, etc.

The Pre-Raphaelite society collapsed at the turn of the 50s and 60s, but in subsequent decades its influence was very noticeable, not only in painting or poetry, but also in furniture art, book design and other applied areas. The fates of its members turned out differently. So, if Rossetti completely abandoned painting, then Millet, somewhat moving away from the style of Pre-Raphaelitism, remained very much in demand and is now the most beloved artist in England of the 2nd half of the 19th century.

By the end of the century, the influence of French artists - realists and impressionists - was increasingly felt in England. One of the most interesting representatives of the English school of this period was the US-born James McNeil Whistler, portrait and landscape painter (1834-1903). He painted in a traditional technique, but his love for subtle light and shadow effects, unsteady, unstable states of nature makes him similar to the Impressionists.

Landscape at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th centuries. remained the hobby of English painters. Among the followers of impressionism we can name Whistler's student Richard Sickert (1860-1942), among the traditional landscape painters - George Turner and his son William Lakin Turner (1867-1936), Frederick Tucker (1860-1935) and others. They fully assimilated the legacy of their famous predecessors and worthily represented the English pictorial tradition in European art. The work of the last two masters is presented in our collection.

Even a cursory glance at the creations of the masters discussed in this article allows us to understand the attractive power of ancient painting. Let's not forget that buying a painting is not just a profitable investment. This, first of all, will bring beauty into the house, the fruit of the master’s inspiration, a piece of his immortality.

In this article you will find useful and interesting information about English artists.

Famous English artists

Richard Parkes Bonington(1802-1828) - English painter and graphic artist. The son received his first artistic skills from his father. I started drawing myself watercolor paints. He unveiled his first works at an exhibition at the Liverpool Art School at the age of 11. Despite his premature death (he died of tuberculosis), Richard Bonington left more than four hundred (400) paintings, watercolors and drawings.
Famous paintings: “The Coast of Picardy” (1826), “Entrance to the Harbor of Rio de Janeiro” (1827).

Harold Greasley(1892-1967) - British artist, landscape and portrait painter, follower of his father and grandfather. Greasley was born in Derbyshire and studied at Derby Art School. He was the son of Frank Greasley and grandson of James Stephan Greasley, who were both famous artists. He interrupted his studies with the outbreak of the First World War. After the war he continued his studies in Nottingham under Arthur Spooner and became a teacher at Repton School.
Some of his work is exhibited at the Derby Museum and Art Gallery; Alfred Goody donated 77 of his paintings to the museum.

Dante Gabriel Rossetti(1928-1882) - English poet, artist, translator of Italian origin, one of the founders of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood (1848-1853).
The early period of creativity is characterized by precision and definiteness of manner; His first paintings, more than other works of the Pre-Raphaelites, resemble the painting of the Italian Quattrocento. In the painting “The Virginity of Mary Immaculate,” the Virgin Mary is depicted as an emaciated, depressed teenage girl
In the late period, the artist turned to mythological themes and stylization.

James Northcote(1746 - 1831) - English artist, member of the Royal Academy of Arts.
He was his father's apprentice, and free time drew. In 1769 he left his father and became a portrait artist. Was accepted as a student in the studio and home of Sir Joshua Reynolds. During this time he also attended classes at the Royal Academy of Arts.
The Young Princess Murdered in the Tower (1786) was his first important work on a historical theme, followed by The Burial of the Princess in the Tower. Both paintings, along with seven others, were destined for John Boydell's Shakespeare Gallery. The Death of Wet Tyler, now in Guildgowley, London, was unveiled to the public in 1787. Northcote created approximately two thousand works and earned a fortune of £40,000.

Exhibition "All Too Human: Bacon, Freud and the Age of Life Painting" in London collected works by 20th century artists who worked in England at different periods of their lives. It was dedicated to the theme of depicting in painting the personal, sometimes most intimate experiences of authors who have already become classics.

The prologue to the exhibition was the famous phrase: “I want the paint to work like flesh.”. It contains the essence of his own supersensible attitude to painting and to the depicted objects. It is supported by two famous Freudian works - a viscous, oily portrait of fellow travesty artist Leigh Bowery, naked and helpless, sitting in a chair, several years before his death and, on the contrary, a realistic and almost transparent, but no less intimate "Girl with a White Dog" from Tate's own collection.

Another British hero included in the title, in many of his works also used his friends and relatives to depict love passions and crises, personal joys and sorrows.

And the curators' retrospective look at the depiction of private life artistic heroes begins at the beginning of the last century, when avant-garde movements, which swept Europe, began to penetrate into the English school. Here Walter Sickert is adjacent to, already with. Well, then, in more than a hundred works, the exhibition goes up to the stars of our days - from Lynette Yiadom-Boakye.

Stanley Spencer
"Patricia Preece"
1933
Southampton City Art Gallery, Hampshire
© The Estate of Stanley Spencer/Bridgeman Images

Lynette Yiadom-Boakye
"Coterie Of Questions"
2015
Private collection
Courtesy Corvi-Mora, London and Jack Shainman Gallery, New York
© Lynette Yiadom-Boakye

Culture of Great Britain (England) Artists of Great Britain (England)

Great Britain, country Great Britain (England), in English “United Kingdom”.
Great Britain, the state of Great Britain (England), the full official name is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in English “United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland”.
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (England) is an island state in northwestern Europe.
Great Britain comes from the English "Great Britain". Britain - according to the ethnonym of the Briton tribe.
Great Britain (England) The capital of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the city of London.
Great Britain (England) The state of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is located on the British Isles (the island of Great Britain and the north-eastern part of the island of Ireland, a large number of small islands and archipelagos, the Channel Islands, Orkney Islands, Shetland Islands), washed by Atlantic Ocean and its seas. Area: total - 244,820 km², land - 240,590 km², inland waters - 3,230 km². The highest peak is Mount Ben Nevis. Ben Nevis, Gaelic Beinn Neibhis/ (1343 m above sea level) - located in the north of Scotland (Grampian Mountains), the lowest point is Fenland (-4 m from sea level).
Great Britain (England) Administrative division of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Great Britain (England) consists of 4 administrative and political parts (historical provinces):
- England (39 counties, 6 metropolitan counties and Greater London) - the administrative center of London.
- Wales (22 unitary entities: 9 counties, 3 cities and 10 city-counties) - the administrative center is the city of Cardiff.
- Scotland (12 regions: 9 districts and 3 main territories) - the administrative center is the city of Edinburgh.
- Northern Ireland (26 districts) - the administrative center is the city of Belfast.
Today, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is home to more than 60 million people.
Great Britain (England) History of Great Britain (England)
The history of England began with the arrival of the Anglo-Saxons, and the division of Britain into several countries.
The history of Britain began much earlier, with the appearance of the first hominids on the island (Clektonian culture), that is, with the appearance of the first people modern type after the end of the last glaciation, during the Mesolithic era.
Great Britain (England) History of Great Britain (England)

England was inhabited by members of the genus Homo for hundreds of thousands of years BC, and by Homo Sapiens for tens of thousands of years. DNA analysis has shown that modern man arrived in the British Isles before the start of the last ice age, but retreated to southern Europe when much of England was covered by a glacier and the rest by tundra. By that time, sea levels were approximately 127 m below present levels, so there was a land bridge between the British Isles and continental Europe - Doggerland. With the end of the last ice age (about 9,500 years ago), the territory of Ireland was separated from England, and later (about 6,500 BC), England was cut off from the rest of Europe.
Great Britain (England) History of Great Britain (England)
According to archaeological finds, the British Isles were repopulated around 12,000 BC. e.. Around 4,000 BC. e. The island of Great Britain was inhabited by people of the Neolithic culture. Due to the lack of written evidence of the pre-Roman era, events from the Neolithic period and before the arrival of the Romans are reconstructed solely from archaeological finds. Since the end of the 20th century, the amount of information based on archaeological and genetic material has been growing. There is also a small amount of toponymic evidence for the Celtic and pre-Celtic populations of Britain.
Great Britain (England) History of Great Britain (England)
The first significant written information about Britain and its inhabitants was that of the Greek navigator Pytheas, who explored the coastal areas of Britain around 325 BC. e. Also some evidence is given by "Ora Maritima".
Great Britain (England) History of Great Britain (England)
The Roman Emperor Julius Caesar also writes about Britain around 50 BC. e.
The ancient British had trade and cultural links with continental Europe since Neolithic times. First of all, they exported tin, which was available in abundance on the islands.
Great Britain (England) History of Great Britain (England)
Situated on the periphery of Europe, Britain received foreign technological and cultural advances much later than the continental regions of prehistory. The history of ancient England is traditionally viewed as successive waves of settlers from the continent, bringing with them new culture and technology. More recent archaeological theories question these migrations and call attention to more difficult relationships between Britain and continental Europe, introducing cultural and technological change without conquest.
Great Britain (England) History of Great Britain (England)
Paleolithic (approximately 250,000 years ago - 10,000 years ago)
The Paleolithic period marks the earliest known human settlement of Britain. During this vast period of time, many environmental changes occurred, spanning several glacial and interglacial periods, which seriously affected the human environment. Information about this period is very contradictory. The people of Britain at that time were hunter-gatherers and fishermen.
Great Britain (England) History of Great Britain (England)

Mesolithic (ca. 10,000 years ago - 5,500 years ago)
About 10,000 years ago, the Ice Age ended and the Holocene era finally began. The temperature probably rose to the current level and the area occupied by forests expanded. About 9500 years ago, due to rising sea levels caused by melting glaciers, Britain and Ireland separated and around 6500 - 6000 BC. e. Britain separated from continental Europe. The warm climate has changed the Arctic environment to pine, birch and alder forests; this less open landscape was less hospitable to the large herds of deer and wild horses that had previously avoided humans. Before these animals, the population's diet included pigs and fewer social animals such as elk, deer, roe deer, wild boar and bison, which required the development of hunting methods. Thin microliths were made for use on harpoons and spears. New woodworking tools such as the cleaver appeared, although some types of flint blades remain similar to their Paleolithic predecessors. The dog was domesticated for its advantages during hunting among wetlands. It is likely that these environmental changes were accompanied by social changes. People migrated and settled lands in the far north of Scotland at this time. British Mesolithic finds have been found at Mendip, Star Carr in Yorkshire and Oronsay, Inner Hebrides. Excavations at Howick, Northumberland have uncovered the remains of a large circular building dating from around 7600 BC. e., which is interpreted as housing. Another example of finds is Deepcar, Sheffield. The most ancient Britons of the Mesolithic Nomads were later supplanted by a semi-sedentary and sedentary population.
Great Britain (England) History of Great Britain (England)

Mesolithic-Neolithic transition
Although during the Mesolithic times the nature of Britain had great resources. The growth of Britain's population and the success of the ancient Britons in exploitation natural resources eventually led to the exhaustion of the latter. The remains of a Mesolithic elk found in a bog at Poulton-le-Fylde, Lancashire, wounded by hunters and rescued three times, provides evidence of Mesolithic hunting. Several crops and domestic animals were introduced into Britain around 4500 BC. e. Hunting as a way of life of the population of Britain remained in the first place in the Neolithic era. Other Neolithic elements such as pottery, letter-shaped arrowheads and polished stone axes were adopted earlier. The climate continued to improve during the late Mesolithic and early Neolithic, causing the replacement of pine forests with forest.
Great Britain (England) History of Great Britain (England) Neolithic
The Neolithic was a time of domestication of plants and animals. Today, the debate continues between supporters of the idea of only the inhabitants of Britain borrowing the culture of agriculture from continental Europe and supporters of the theory of introducing new agriculture through the conquest and replacement of the indigenous population.
While Neolithic times saw the development of monumental architecture in Britain, respect for the dead may represent a more comprehensive social and ideological change associated with a new interpretation of time, origins, society and personality.
In any case, the Neolithic Revolution introduced a sedentary lifestyle into Britain, and ultimately led to the stratification of society into various groups of farmers, artisans and leaders. Forests were destroyed in order to provide land for growing crops and livestock. By this time, the people of Britain were raising cattle and pigs, while sheep and goats, as well as wheat and barley, were later introduced from continental Europe. However, only a few Neolithic settlements are known in England, unlike on the continent. Cave settlements were in common use at that time.
Construction of the first earthworks in Britain began in the early Neolithic (c. 4400 BC - 3300 BC) in the form of long mounds that were used for public burials and the first mound camps, which have parallels on the continent. Long barrows are possibly derived from longhouses, although longhouse finds in Britain represent only a few examples. Stone houses on the Orkney Islands, such as Skara Brae, provide excellent examples of early settlement in Britain. Evidence of increasing craftsmanship is found at Mir Trek - the oldest engineered road and the oldest timber-paved road in Northern Europe, built on the Somerset Levels moors dating back to 3807 BC, leaf-shaped arrowheads, ceramic wheels and the beginning of the production of polished axes are general indicators of this period. Evidence of use cow's milk found by analyzing the content of ceramic finds near Mir Trek.
Grooved pottery appears in Britain at the same time. The famous sites of Stonehenge, Avebury and Silbury Hill reached their heyday. Industrial centers of flint mining such as those at Cissbury and Grimes Graves indicate the beginning of long-distance trade during the Neolithic period.
Great Britain (England) History of Great Britain (England)

Bronze Age (ca. 2200 BC - 750 BC)
Bronze Age Britain This period can be divided into an early stage (2300 to 1200) and a late stage (1200-700). The Bell Beaker culture appears in England around 2475-2315 BC. e., next to flat axes and burials with corpses. People of this period also created many other famous prehistoric monuments, in particular, Stonehenge (only the last stage of construction) and Seahenge. The bell glass culture is believed to be of Iberian origin and introduced the skill of metal processing to Britain. At first, products were made from copper, and from approximately 2150 BC. e. In the settlement of Darkhan, the production of bronze products began. From this time the Bronze Age began in Britain. Over the next thousand years, bronze gradually replaced stone as the main material for tools and weapons in Britain.

Bronze Age Britain The British in the Early Bronze Age buried their dead in mounds, often placing a bell-shaped goblet next to the body. Later, cremation was adopted, and daggers were found in urns containing the ashes of the dead. Bronze Age people lived in round houses. The diet of the inhabitants of Britain consisted of cattle, sheep, pigs and deer, as well as shellfish and birds. The British mined their own salt. Britain's wetlands were a source of game and reeds for the British.
Bronze Age Britain There is archaeological evidence of large-scale destruction of cultural patterns of the time, which some scholars believe may indicate an invasion (or at least migration) into southern Britain around the 12th century BC. e.. Some scientists believe that the Celts settled Britain at this time.
Great Britain (England) History of Great Britain (England)
Iron Age (ca. 750 BC - 43 BC)
Iron Age Britain Around 750 BC e. iron processing technology came to Britain from the countries of Southern Europe. Products (weapons and tools) made of iron were stronger than previously used bronze; the introduction of iron tools began in Britain during the Iron Age. Iron processing changed many aspects of life, mainly in agriculture. Iron plow tips could plow the ground much faster and deeper than wooden or bronze ones. Iron axes could cut down forests much more efficiently for agriculture. After the deforestation, the landscapes of arable land and pastures expanded. Many settlements were founded in Britain at that time, and the spread of land ownership was very important.
Iron Age Britain Around 600 BC e., British society changed again. In 500 BC. e. Celtic culture covers most of the British Isles. The Celts were highly skilled craftsmen and produced elaborate gold jewelry and weapons made of bronze and iron. Were the Iron Age Britons "Celtics"? controversial issue. Some scholars, such as John Collis and Simon James, actively oppose the idea of "Celtic Britain", since the term is currently applied only to a tribe in Gaul. But, later names and tribal names show that they concern speakers of Celtic languages.
Iron Age Britain During the Iron Age, Britons lived in organized tribal groups ruled by chieftains. As the population grew larger, war naturally broke out between the warring British tribes. This reason is traditionally interpreted as a reason for the construction of hillforts in Britain, although the placement of some hillforts on the sides of hills calls into question their defensive significance. Although the first built settlement dates back to approximately 1500 BC. BC, the fortifications reached their peak during the Late Iron Age. More than 2,000 Iron Age hillforts have been found in Britain. Around 350 BC. e. many fortifications were abandoned, and the rest were strengthened.

Great Britain (England) History of Great Britain (England)

The last centuries before the Roman invasion there was an influx of Germanic refugees into Britain from the Rhine and Gaul (the territory of modern France and Belgium), who were part of the Roman Empire around 50 BC. e.. They settled in the territories where the modern cities of Portsmouth and Winchester are located today.
Britain Late Pre-Roman Iron Age
Starting around 175 BC. BC, areas of Kent, Hertfordshire and Essex begin to cultivate advanced pottery skills.
Britain Late Pre-Roman Iron Age
The settled tribes of southern England were partially Romanized, and create the first settlement (oppida) large enough to be called a city.
The last centuries before the Roman invasion were a period of complications in British life. Around 100 BC BC, iron rods began to be used as currency, while domestic trade and trade with continental Europe flourished, mainly due to Britain's large mineral reserves. The coinage was developed based on the continental type, but with the names of local chiefs. Coinage took place mainly in the south-east of England, but not in Dumnonia in the West.
Britain Late Pre-Roman Iron Age
After the start of the expansion of the Roman Empire to the north. The rulers of Rome began to show interest in Britain. This could have been caused by an influx of refugees from the Roman provinces of occupied Europe into Britain, or by large mineral reserves.

Great Britain (England) History of Great Britain (England)

Roman Britain
After the Roman conquest of Gaul in the middle of the 1st century BC. e. Roman Emperor Julius Caesar undertook two campaigns in Britain (in 55 and 54 BC). During this period, Britain became one of the outlying provinces of the Roman Empire. Mainly the southern, eastern and partly central regions underwent Romanization; the west and north were almost not affected by it. There were often uprisings among the local population (for example, the Boudicca uprising). The conquest was secured by a system of fortified points (Roman camps) and military roads. Roman ramparts were built along the northern borders.
The annexation of Britain to the Roman Empire accelerated the process of social differentiation of the British tribes. On the other hand, the conquest of Britain by the Roman Empire did not lead to fundamental changes in Celtic society. The crisis of the Roman Empire led to its weakening. From the end of the 3rd century, Britain was subject to raids by Celtic and Saxon tribes. At the beginning of the 5th century, Roman rule in Britain ended. Britain again split into a number of independent Celtic regions.
Great Britain (England) History of Great Britain (England)
History of the creation of the British state
The main historical stages of the creation of the British state
Anglo-Saxon period
After the Romans left Britain, most of the island was conquered by Saxon tribes in the 5th century. They formed seven large kingdoms, which were gradually united under the influence of Wessex into a single kingdom of England. King Alfred the Great of Wessex (circa 871 - 899) was the first to call himself King of England.
From the end of the 8th century, the Vikings began to attack England and even temporarily captured some of its northern and eastern regions. For part of the first half of the 11th century, England was ruled by Danish kings - the most famous are Sven Forkbeard (1013-1014) and Canute the Great (1016-1035).
In 1042 the throne returned to the Saxon Edward the Confessor, but soon after his death England was successfully invaded by the Normans under William the Conqueror, defeating the Saxons at the Battle of Hastings on 14 October 1066.
Great Britain (England) History of Great Britain (England)
History of the creation of the British state
The main historical stages of the creation of the British state
Age of William the Conqueror (1066-1087)
William the Conqueror With the rise to power of William the Conqueror and the accession of the House of Normandy, an era of profound internal changes began in England. William the Conqueror (1066-1087) approved the common law of the Anglo-Saxons, collected under Edward, but at the same time, to strengthen his political power, he introduced the feudal system. Anglo-Saxon customs became an object of contempt at court, and even in official acts French customs and language were introduced. All this caused uprisings not only of the British, but also of the Normans, which were suppressed with the greatest cruelty, devastation of cities and communities. The union of England with Normandy could hardly be considered an increase in its political power, since it entailed strife within the royal family itself and with France, which lasted for many centuries. William the Conqueror's eldest son, Robert, retained Normandy, and the English crown went to his second son, William II the Red (1087-1100). The aggressive aspirations of this king, especially his desire to retake Normandy, involved the state in heavy wars. A lot of unrest was also caused by the king’s dispute with Pope Urban II and Archbishop Anselm over investiture (the installation of an archbishop). The dispute ended in the victory of the king, and Anselm was forced to seek salvation in flight. But with his despotic and treacherous character, William the Conqueror aroused popular hatred towards himself. William the Conqueror died in the forest from an arrow wound in the chest under unknown circumstances.
Great Britain (England) History of Great Britain (England)

History of the creation of the British state
England (Britain) after William the Conqueror

After the death of William the Conqueror, his younger brother, Henry I, nicknamed the Scientist (1101-1135), took over the throne, thus eliminating his older brother, Robert, who was at that time on his way from Palestine, from the first crusade. To find support among the people, he issued a charter in which he promised to restore the laws of Edward and William the Conqueror and ease many duties. Robert tried to restore his rights to the English throne with arms in hand, but, through the mediation of Archbishop Anselm, who had returned to his homeland, the brothers entered into an agreement among themselves, according to which Robert retained Normandy. Soon, however, Henry I violated the treaty, started a war against Robert, captured him and imprisoned him in prison, where Robert died. Normandy remained with England, despite the resistance of the French king Louis VI. The dispute with the pope was also over, and Henry I recognized Pope Paschal II's right of investiture in English Church. However, the royal power lost very little from this. Since the only son of Henry I died in a shipwreck, with the consent of the barons, the daughter of Henry I Matilda, who was at that time in her second marriage to Geoffrey Plantagenet, Count of Anjou, was declared heir to the throne.
However, after Henry I, Stephen (1135-1154), the son of Henry's sister and the Count of Blois, took the throne. This led to civil strife, which was accompanied by disputes between King Stephen and the clergy and raids by the Scots and Welsh. In 1153, Matilda's son (the future Henry II) landed in England, and since at that time Stephen lost his only son, the rivals concluded a peace treaty between themselves, according to which Henry II was declared heir to the throne.
Great Britain (England) History of Great Britain (England)
History of the creation of the British state Kings of England
Reign of the Plantagenets (House of Angevin) (1154-1485)
King Henry II of England (1154-1189)
King Richard I of England - Richard the Lionheart (1189-1199)
Magna Carta
The reign of King John the Landless of England (1199-1216) is one of the most significant in the history of England. At this time, a solid foundation was laid for her political freedom, which since then, having been subjected to various tests, has never completely disappeared.
King Henry III of England (1216-1272)
King Edward I of England (1272-1307)
King Edward II of England (1307-1327)
King Edward III of England (1327-1377)
King Richard II of England (1377-1399)
Lancaster Dynasty (1399-1461)
King Henry IV of England (1399-1413)
King Henry V of England (1413-1422)
King Henry VI of England (1422-1461)
Wars of the Roses (1455-1485)
A 30-year series of wars of succession between the Houses of York and Lancaster, known as the Wars of the Roses. The supporters of the Scarlet Rose, or Lancastrians, were mainly the north-western counties, as well as Wales and Ireland, along with the barons, while on the side of the White Rose, or Yorks, stood the merchant south-east, the philistinism, the peasants and the lower house
York Dynasty (1461-1485)
King Edward IV of England (1461-1483)
King Richard III of England (1483-1485)
House of Tudor (1485-1603)
King Henry VII of England (1485-1509)
King Henry VIII of England (1509-1547)
King Edward VI of England (1547-1553)
Queen Mary I of England (1553-1558)
Queen Elizabeth I of England (1558-1603)
Stuart dynasty, revolution and restoration (1603-1689)
King James I of England (1603-1625)
King Charles I of England (1625-1649)
Military rule associated with the crisis of the royal reign of Charles I, Political leader and leader of the English Revolution Cromwell, an outstanding military leader and statesman of this period
King Charles II of England (1660-1685)
King James II of England (1685-1688)
Reign of William of Orange (1688-1702)
Queen of England, Queen Anne of Great Britain (1702-1714)
UK education

Artists of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ( British artists, English artists, Irish artists)

The historical merit of Queen Anne of England is the creation of the new state of Great Britain (England, Britain, Great Britain). In the internal life of the people, the most important event that marked the reign of Queen Anne of England was the final annexation of Scotland, which at one time, thanks to Jacobite machinations, assumed an overly independent position. In 1707, the Parliaments of both countries formed the state of Great Britain by an act of union that came into force on May 1 of that year.
Great Britain (England) History of Great Britain (England)
History of the creation of the British state Kings of Great Britain
King George I of Great Britain (1714-1727)
King George II of Great Britain (1727-1760)
King George III of Great Britain (1760-1820)
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland was created on 1 January 1801 by the merger of the Kingdom of Great Britain (itself a merger of Scotland and England in 1707) with the Kingdom of Ireland and existed until 1922.
King George IV of Great Britain and Ireland (1820-1830)
King William IV of Great Britain and Ireland (1830-1837)
Queen Victoria of Great Britain and Ireland (1837-1901)
With the accession of Queen Victoria to the throne, a period of deep internal transformations began in the public life of England, which gradually changed its old aristocratic system in the spirit of modern democracy.
King Edward VII of Great Britain and Ireland (1901-1910)
King George V of Great Britain and Ireland (1910-1927)
In 1927, by the Royal and Parliamentary Titles Act, the name of the Kingdom was changed to the "United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland".
King George V of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (1927-1936)
King Edward VIII of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (1936 - abdicated)
King George VI of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (1936-1952)
Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (1952–present)
Great Britain (England) Culture of Great Britain
The culture of the United Kingdom (the Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Commonwealth) is rich and varied. It greatly influences culture on a global scale.
Great Britain has strong cultural ties with its former colonies, especially those states where English is the official language. Yes, some English music artists significantly influenced the development of music in the world (Beatles). Immigrants from the Indian subcontinent and the Caribbean have made significant contributions to British culture over the past half century. During the formation of the United Kingdom, it included cultures of former independent states that entered the commonwealth.

Great Britain (England) Art of England art Great Britain
Artists of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (British artists, English artists, Irish artists)
UK artists are well known throughout the world.
Here is a small list of UK artists:

Abts Tomma, Allington Edward, Almond Darren, Blake Peter, Banksy Burgin, Victor Woodrow, Bill Gilbert, George Goldsworthy, Andy Gordon, Douglas Gormley, Anthony Deller, Jeremy Deacon, Richard Dean, Tacita Doig, Peter Delwood, Dexter Ziegler, Conrad Shawcross , Kossoff Leon, Cragg Richard, Lucas Sarah, Lambie Jim, Mackenzie Lucy, Marr Leslie, Morris Sarah, Mueck Ron, Noble Paul, Tim Noble, Sue Webster, Ofili Chris, Riley Bridget, Wright Richard, Rego Paula, Richie Matthew, Rachel Howard, Saville Jenny, Skaer Lucy, Starling Simon, Wallinger Mark, Warren Rebecca, Webb Boyd, Finlay, Ian Hamilton, Fowler Luke, Freud Lucien, Hiorns Roger, Hatum Mona, Howson Peter, Hockney David, Hume Gary, Hirst Damien, Chapman Jake and Dinos, Shonibare Yinka, Shaw Rakib, Shulman Jason, Emin Tracy.
Artists of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (British artists, English artists, Irish artists)
Today, modern British, English, Irish artists, sculptors, and masters of art photography live and work in the Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Artists of Great Britain (Artists of England) create new original paintings and sculptures.

Artists of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (British artists, English artists, Irish artists)
In our gallery you can get acquainted with the works of the best British, English, Irish artists and sculptors.
Artists of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (British artists, English artists, Irish artists)

In our gallery you can find and purchase for yourself the best works of British, English, Irish artists and sculptors.