Background
Sir Charles was born on November 17, 1793, in Plymouth, United Kingdom.
Sir Charles was born on November 17, 1793, in Plymouth, United Kingdom.
Sir Charles studied in England and traveled and studied on the Continent for several years, becoming famous for his topical sketches. His genius manifested itself most clearly, however, in his sound critical appraisals, and in 1819 he began writing about what he saw and knew from his travels. He became a recognized authority on art, was made president of the Royal Academy in 1850, was knighted and became first director of the National Gallery in 1855, where his administrative duties forced him to give up his painting. Eastlake died Dec. 24, 1865, in Pisa, Italy, during one of his exploratory trips. His great contribution to society was his energetic promotion of public and governmental interest in the social aspects of design and the fine arts in general.