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.
