Thomas Shackleton

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Thomas Shackleton was a little known English painter in the 18th century, who specialised in portraiture. He was born in the village of Laxfield in 1730, and was the illegitimate son of a mill owner (Albert Shackleton) and a peasant girl. The couple later married.

His skills in draftsmanship were barely noticed until he was thirteen, and he clearly had modest talent, however he made up for this with unflinching attention to detail. He received little formal education, but read much on Renaissance art. In 1752 he moved to a squat in London where he met Charles Brooking, and hugely developed his style. His moving to London caused a huge scandal in his home village of Laxfield, as it was expected for him to continue the mill work (which still stands, now called Gorams mill). His father died in 1764 and never truly forgave his son. The house was lived in by the now widowed wife, who eventually sold it, and moved to America. Shocked at his father's rejection, Thomas became seriously ill, and contracted pneumonia. He died in bed in London in January, 1765.

Shackleton only ever reached small fame in London, and lived of designing posters and oddjobbing. Only two of his paintings still survive.