Collection: Ford Madox Brown

Ford Madox Brown (1821–1893) was an English painter, draftsman, illustrator, and craftsman. Born in Calais, France, he later died in London, England. His work is closely associated with the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, though he was never a formal member of the group. He was a close friend of Dante Gabriel Rossetti and collaborated with William Morris.

Brown painted moral and historical subjects, often addressing social themes of his era. His style presented a distinctively graphic and often Hogarthian interpretation of Pre-Raphaelite aesthetics, sharing their rejection of academic painting and interest in medieval art. His painting Work (1852–1865) depicts the transition from a rural to an urban economy.

Brown joined William Morris's design company, Morris, Marshall, Faulkner & Co., in 1861, contributing to stained glass design. In his later career, he executed The Manchester Murals, a series of twelve works depicting Mancunian history for Manchester Town Hall.