Frederic Shields

Frederic James Shields, (1833–1911) was an artist and designer born in Hartlepool, England but generally known as a Manchester artist as he spent most of his early working life there. He was associated with the Pre-Raphaelites through Dante Gabriel Rossetti and Ford Madox Brown.

Shields' work was heavily influenced by the highly colouristic late style of Rossetti. Most of his art is illustrative, though he also painted some ambitious religious works and some genre images of Manchester life. His designs are comparable to Art Nouveau. The letters between Shields and Rossetti during their long relationship are also a useful source of information on both artists.

Shields's portrayal of the room in which William Blake had died inspired Rossetti to write a sonnet about the subject. [ [http://www.rossettiarchive.org/docs/dgr.ltr.0547.rad.html Letter to Frederick Shields, 21 May 1880] ] Shields was also with Rossetti himself when he died, and produced a drawing of the dead poet at the request of Rossetti's brother. [ [http://www.delart.org/damdocent/prbothers.html#rossetti Delaware Art Museum] ]

Shields helped to secure for Brown the commission for the Manchester Murals. He was initially commissioned himself to produce six of the twelve paintings, but he withdrew in favour of Brown.

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