Thomas Baines Military Art

(John) Thomas Baines. Born in Kings Lynn in Norfolk, England on the 27th ofNovember 1820. Thomas Baines was not only to become artist but an explorer. Baines was educated at Horatio Nelsons Classical and Commercial Academy and in 1836 started his working career as an apprentice to an ornamental carriage builder, soon turning to painting and studied under the heraldic painter William Carr. In 1855 Thomas Baines joined the explorer Augustus Gregory on a 2 year expidition across Northern Australia as official artist and storekeeper sponsored by The Royal Geographical Society. This was followed the following year of 1858 when Thomas Baines went with David Livingston along the Zambezi and was one of the first white men to view Victoria Falls. In 1869 Thomas Baines led one of the first Gold Prospecting expeditions to Mashonaland. Baines painted a number of scenes during his expiditions as well as a number of paintings of military events in Africa. Thomas Baines died in Durban on 8th May 1875.