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Edward Francisco Burney (1760-1848)

Image by National Portrait Gallery.

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Edward Francisco BurneyÌý(circa 1785-1800)
By Edward Francisco Burney


Born:ÌýSeptember 7, 1760
Died:ÌýDecember 16, 1848

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Birth and Family
Edward Francisco (also known as Francesco or Francis) Burney was born in Worcester on September 7, 1760. He was the son of Richard Burney (1723-1792) and Elizabeth Humphries (c.1720-1771), the brother of Charles Rousseau Burney (1747-1819), the nephew ofÌýCharles Burney (1726-1814), and a favourite cousin ofÌýFrances Burney (1752-1840).

Artistic Training
In 1776, at the age of 16, Edward became a student at the Royal Academy School of Art. He received encouragement from Joshua Reynolds, then-president of the School. Edward exhibited at the Royal Academy of Art from 1780 through 1803. His collection included historical pieces and portraits of friends and family, including his cousinÌýFrancesÌý(he was apparently too shy to paint other sitters).Ìý

Illustration
Though he was a capable oil portraitist, Edward worked mainly as an illustrator. In 1780, he exhibited three drawings to accompany Frances Burney'sÌýEvelina, one of which was later engraved and incorporated into a 1791 edition of the novel. He went on to do a series of illustrations for Milton'sÌýParadise Lost, which are now held by theÌý.Ìý

Satire
Edward was influenced by the satirical style of Hogarth. In the 1820s, Edward did a set of four large watercolours which satirized musical and social life of the time:ÌýThe WaltzÌýandÌýThe Elegant Establishment for Young LadiesÌý(held by the Victoria and Albert Museum), andÌýAmateurs of Tye-Wig MusicÌýandÌýThe Glee Club, or, The Triumph of MusicÌý(held by the Yale Center for British Art). An oil version ofÌýAmateurs of Tye-Wig MusicÌýis available toÌý.Ìý

Death
Burney died in London on December 16, 1848, at the age of 88, and was buried inÌýMarylebone. He was unmarried.Ìý


Further Reading

Online Resources


By Robin Simon
Available to online subscribers to theÌý


Made available online by theÌý


Made available online by theÌýÌý


Made available online by theÌýÌý


Made available online by theÌýÌý


Made available online by theÌýÌý


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Print Resources

Patricia D. Crown. "Edward Francis Burney, The Artist."ÌýThe Burney LetterÌý5.2 (1999): 1-2.Ìý

---.ÌýDrawings by E. F. Burney in theÌý.ÌýSan Marino: Huntington Library, 1982.Ìý

---. "Visual music: E. F. Burney and a Hogart revival."ÌýÌý83.4 (Winter 1980): 435-472.

---.ÌýEdward F. Burney: An Historical Study in English Romantic Art.ÌýPhD thesis, 1977.Ìý

Eaves, T. C. Duncan.ÌýÌýÌý62.4 (December 1947): 995-999.

Graves, Algernon.ÌýThe Royal Academy of Arts: a complete dictionary of contributors and their work from its foundation in 1769 to 1904.ÌýNew York: Burt Franklin, 1972.

Hallett, Mark.ÌýÌýEighteenth-Century StudiesÌý37.4Ìý(Summer 2004): 581-604.

Loussouarn, Sophie. "An Elegant Establishment for Young LadiesÌýd'Edward Burney: La Représentation d'une institution de jeunes filles."ÌýRSÉAA XVII-XVIIIÌý45 (1997): 263-280.

Peckham, Morse. "Blake, Milton and Edward Burney."ÌýThe Princeton University Library ChronicleÌýXI (1950): 107-126.

Solkin, David H., ed.ÌýÌýNew Haven & London: Yale University Press for the Paul Mellon Centre, 2001.

Waterhouse, Ellis.ÌýThe Dictionary of British 18th Century Painters in Oils and Crayons.ÌýWoodbridge, Suffolk, England: Antique Collectors' Club, 1981.

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