{"Id":431,"Name":"John Frederick Lewis","Biography":"\u003Ccenter\u003E\u003Cb\u003EJohn Frederick Lewis\u003C/b\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022http://www.victorianartinbritain.co.uk/\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003Eby Paul Ripley\u003C/a\u003E\u003C/b\u003E\u003C/center\u003E\u003Cbr\u003ELewis was born in London, where his father was an engraver, who gave his son lessons in draughtsmanship. From an early age Lewis was a proficient watercolour painter. He was a full member of the Old Watercolour Society whist still in his twenties. In the late 1820s, Lewis travelled to Europe, \u0026 in 1832 travelled to Morocco, which must have stimulated his interest in Arab life \u0026 customs. In 1841 he travelled overland to Cairo, \u0026 stayed there for over nine years. During his stay he \u0026lsquo;went native,\u0026rsquo; adopting Arab dress \u0026 customs. \u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003ELewis exhibited at the OWS on his return to England in 1850, where his pictures were extremely well-received. In 1855 he was elected President of the Old Watercolour Society, though by that time he was turning increasingly to painting in oil. There were probably a number of reasons for this. Firstly the permanence of oils. Secondly the greater scope it gave him. Thirdly the far greater recognition, \u0026 hence financial rewards. Lewis became an Associate of the Royal Academy, \u0026 a full member in 1865. \u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003ELewis was amongst the very greatest artists of his day, \u0026 his pictures are beautifully painted, subtle, \u0026 fastidious. Nowadays they bring very high prices.\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E Source: \u003Ca href=\u0022http://www.victorianartinbritain.co.uk/\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EVictorian Art in Britain\u003C/a\u003E.\u003Cp\u003E","Awards":null,"HasAlbums":false,"HasPortraits":true,"HasRelationships":false,"HasArticles":false,"HasDepictedPlaces":true,"HasLetters":true,"HasLibraryItems":false,"HasProducts":false,"HasSignatures":false,"HasVideos":false,"HasMapLocations":true,"TotalArtworks":40}