Thomas Henry Thomas (1839-1915)

Arlunydd Penygarn

artist; born 31 March 1839 at the Baptist College, Pontypool, son of Thomas Thomas (1805 - 1851), and his wife, Mary David, Cardiff. He was educated at home and at an academy kept by Dr. Bompas in Bristol before he entered the Bristol School of Art, whence he went (1858) to Carey's Art School, London, and to the Royal Academy Schools; he later went to Paris, Rome , etc. At Rome he came to know John Gibson and Penry Williams. He returned to London in 1861, settled down as a painter, and m. in 1866. In London he devoted himself chiefly to portraiture, design, and book illustration. He also did some work for the Graphic and The Daily Graphic, going as special artist for these journals to Canada in 1884 for British Association meetings. His father having retired to Cardiff, T. H. Thomas also ultimately settled down in that town. Henceforth he became closely associated with Welsh life — the national eisteddfod, the Royal Cambrian Academy (of which he was one of the first promoters), the Cardiff Naturalists' Society (he was a particularly active member in this society, becoming its president in 1888), etc. The geology, archaeology, and folk-lore of Wales , the study of Pontypool and Usk japan ware , the Cardiff library and museum , etc. — these were a few of his varied interests. He died 5th July, 1915.

Source Dictionary of Welsh Biography