Thomas Benjamin Kennington 001

Thomas Benjamin Kennington (1856–1916) was a British painter known for his realistic and dramatic depictions of everyday life. He was born in Grimsby, Lincolnshire, England, and began his artistic career at the Royal Academy Schools in London. Kennington's early works were mainly portraits and genre scenes, often depicting working-class subjects. He was particularly interested in the lives of women and children, and his paintings often depicted their struggles and hardships. In the 1890s Kennington began to experiment with more dramatic and allegorical subjects, inspired by the Pre-Raphaelite movement. His paintings from this period often depicted mythological or biblical subjects, but still retained his characteristic realism and attention to detail. Kennington was a member of several prestigious art societies, including the Royal Society of British Artists and the New English Art Club. He exhibited regularly at the Royal Academy, where he was awarded a medal for his work in 1904. Today, Kennington's work can be found in major museums and galleries around the world, including the Tate Britain in London and the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa.