Biographies

James Ward (1769 – 1859) Ward was born in London, the son of a warehouse manager. He was apprenticed to John Raphael Smith in about 1782, but left after a short time to assist his brother, William, an engraver. He learned from him the process of mezzotint, in which he came to excel. Ward’s early work was much influenced by the rustic genre of George Morland (1763-1804), who married his sister. Ward was appointed mezzotinter to the Prince of Wales in 1794. Receiving a commission to paint the various breeds of cows, he toured Great Britain, painting some 200 cow portraits, and then going on to other animals. From there he moved to large historical subjects, including a famous rendition of the Battle of Waterloo. A sympathetic biography of him by C. R. Grundy brought about renewed interest in his work in 1909.