Thomas Parkinson (painter)

Thomas Parkinson was a British portrait-painter. He became a student in the schools of the Royal Academy in 1772.

Works

file:Mary Bradshaw in Cymon by Thomas Parkinson.jpg|thumb|Mary Bradshaw in Cymon by Parkinson
Parkinson was known as a painter of theatrical figures and groups. He also practised regularly as a portrait-painter, and exhibited portraits at the Free Society of Artists in 1769 and 1770, and at the Royal Academy from 1773 to 1789. Some of these were engraved, including:

William Balmain,
William Woodfall,
Jonathan Britain, forger, and others.

Among his theatrical groups were:

Mr. Weston in the character of Billy Button in 'The Maid of Bath' ;
Mr. Shuter, with Mr. Quick and Mrs. Green, in a scene from "She stoops to conquer" ;
A Scene from Cymon ;
A Scene from The Duenna ;
Garrick led off the Stage by Time with Tragedy and Comedy.

A number of Parkinson's small theatrical portraits were engraved. Some of the original drawings for these went to the Burney collection of theatrical portraits in the print-room at the British Museum.