George Armfield, animal painter, born April 12th, 1811, in Monmouth. He was apprenticed when fourteen years of age to a trading firm in London. He did not like the trade, and with the assistance of a member of the firm and lover of painting, who gave him colours and taught him how to mix them, young Armfield there upon devoted himself to the department of art for which he has since become celebrated.

Therefore he is entirely a self-taught artist. From 1840 to 1869- that is, for 30 years- he exhibited pictures annually at the Royal Academy, the British Institution, the Society of British Artists, as will be seen by the Catalogues and always found ready customers.

He was a good colourist, and generally painted ...