Brown, Ford Madox (1821–1893)

English painter, associated with the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood through his pupil Dante Gabriel Rossetti. His pictures, which include The Last of England (1855; City Art Gallery, Birmingham) and Work (1852–65; City Art Gallery, Manchester), are characterized by elaborate symbolism and abundance of realistic detail.

He studied under the Belgian painter and engraver Baron Gustaf Wappers (1803–1874) at Antwerp, Belgium, worked for three years in Paris, and was influenced by the German Nazarenes, a group of painters whom he met when visiting Rome in 1845. He settled in London and Rossetti became his pupil in 1848. Although not a member of the English Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, he was drawn by Rossetti into its orbit and his works clearly reflect Pre-Raphaelite enthusiasms. His paintings for the town hall in Manchester (1878–93) were a notable effort to interpret local and social history. His later subject pictures, romantic treatments of scenes from history and literature such as Christ Washing St Peter's Feet (Tate Gallery, London), are not always harmonious in design and colour, but as a colourist he excels in some small landscapes.