Edward Bird (1772-1819) 'Bird was the man next to Hogarth who laboured to give Art an independent character, by thinking for himself, and in finding subjects in life instead of books'. (Art Journal) '... his society soon became the centre of attraction to all those who had enough of good taste ... Thus was spontaneously framed [formed] a small society of art-loving friends, from which all that Bristol now can boast of artists and amateurs has descended'. (Dr John King) Edward Bird trained as a japanning artist in Wolverhampton, decorating laquered tin-plate domestic items, particularly trays. He moved to Bristol in about 1794 and continued japanning to make a living while he established himself as a 'Portrait, Landscape and Historical Painter' and opened an 'evening Drawing Academy' for young gentlemen. He befriended Cumberland, Dr King and Rippingille and began the sketching meetings where the Bristol School artists met and worked together. Bird is best known for his genre painting such as The Reading of the Will Concluded. They often include portraits of friends, for which he was compared to the Scottish artist, David Wilkie (1785-1841). It was Bird's influence which stimulated the flourishing of Bristol genre painting, particularly in the work of Rippingille, Colman and Rolinda Sharples. Bird showed that a Bristol artist could achieve national success and he became Bristol's first Royal Academician in 1815. He was also Historical Painter to Princess Charlotte. He was particularly successful and well-loved in Bristol, with prosperous merchants purchasing his pictures of domestic life. Yet he died poor. After his death a large memorial exhibition was held in 1820 in aid of his family.