The Manchester Murals are a series of twelve paintings by Ford Madox Brown in the Great Hall of Manchester Town Hall and are based on the history of Manchester. Following the success of Brown's painting Work he was commissioned to paint six murals for its Great Hall. Another six murals were to be completed by Frederic Shields who later withdrew, leaving Brown to complete all twelve works. The murals were begun in 1879, towards the end of Brown's career, but were not completed until 1893, the year he died. During this period he moved from London to Manchester with his family, first living in Crumpsall and then Victoria Park.
Ford Madox Brown, painter of The Manchester Murals
The twelve murals are located on opposite walls in the Great Hall.
Image: Brown Manchester Mural Romans
Image: Brown Manchester Mural Edwin
Ford Madox Brown was a British painter of moral and historical subjects, notable for his distinctively graphic and often Hogarthian version of the Pre-Raphaelite style. Arguably, his most notable painting was Work (1852–1865). Brown spent the latter years of his life painting the twelve works known as The Manchester Murals, depicting Mancunian history, for Manchester Town Hall.
Self-portrait 1850
Ford Madox Brown
Brown, on the left, with William Holman Hunt. Caricature by Max Beerbohm from Rossetti and His Circle.
The Last of England depicting an emigrating couple, 1855