Henry Bright

British (1814-1873)

Henry Bright, born in Suffolk in 1814, was a landscape painter associated with the Norwich School of painters. He studied under Alfred Stannard and John Sell Cotman. From 1836 to 1858 he lived in London earning a living as an artist and watercolor teacher. Between 1839 and 1844 he exhibited at the New Society of Painters in Watercolours, and in the 1840s published manuals such as Bright’s Drawing Book and Bright’s Graduated Tint Studies. Bright enjoyed considerable success as a painter during his lifetime. In 1844 Queen Victoria purchased his “Entrance to an Old Town.” He also received several commissions from the Grand Duchess Marie of Russia. Bright painted throughout Britain and Europe, working in oils, watercolor, chalk and pencil. He was friendly with J. M. W. Turner whom he sometimes accompanied on sketching expeditions. His work was also highly regarded by John Ruskin.

Bright’s work is in many collections, including the Norwich Castle Museum, British Museum, Victoria and Albert Museum, Tate Britain and the Courtauld Institute Galleries, National Gallery of Scotland, Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, Art Institute of Chicago, and Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco.