Ford Madox Brown (b 16 April 1821 Calais - d 6 October 1893, London)         ord Madox Brown, the son of the resigned ship treasurer, was born in Calais. He studied in Bruges, Ghent, Antwerp and Paris tried different manners. The first of his significant works are " The Execution of Mary Queen of Scots" (1840, Manchester, Witworth Art Gallery), "Mangfred and Jungfrau" (1841, Manchester, City Art Gallery).     In 1844 he participated in the project's contest for the new Westminster Palace. His cartoon "Body of Harold Brought before William the Conqueror" (1844, London, S.London A.G.) impressed the young Dante Gabriel Rossetti so much that he wrote a letter to be Brown's student. Thanked to Rossetti Brown became acquainted with Hunt and Millais, but he refused to enter the "Brotherhood."     In 1845 Brown was in Rome, where he met Nazarethers, but he didin't get their strong influence. When he moved to England Madox Brown painted two works on the National History subjects: " Wicliff Reading His Translation of the Bible to John Gaunt" (1848, Bradford, City Art Gallery and Museum) and "Chaucer at the Court of King Edward III" (1845-1851, London, Tate Gallery). The artist is characterized by his attention to the historical authencity of the whole details, by the compound composition and bright colour. All these features appeared under the influence of Pre- Raphaelites.     Almost all the 50s Brown tried to embody the most monumental of his thought - to glorify the greatness of human's work. And it was reflected in his grandiose art canvas "Work" (1852-1865, Manchester, City Art Gallery).     Madox Brown supported the Pre-Raphaelite's efforts to depict the religious subjects in more realistic manner and he created his own picture "Jesus Washing Peter's Feet"(1852, London, Tate Gallery). The artists also responded by the picture "The Last of England" to the epoque's social problems. Among his several realistic landscapes of that time the most lovely is "An English Autumn Afternoon", 1852-1855, Birmingham, City Museum and Art Gallery). From 1856 till 1860 Brown right after D.G.Rossetti taught in London Labor College. During following years he mostly created the frescoes in the Manchester's Town Hall, which were to illustrate the history of town (1878-1893). During his life Brown was not very popular (partly because of John Ruskin, who had forced relations with Brown). Only at the end of the life he became a little more solvent.