William Burgess of Dover Country Church with Figures

William Burgess of Dover (1805–1861)

William Burgess (1805–1861), was born in Canterbury in 1805. After serving an apprenticeship with his uncle, he travelled in Europe with his artist friend Thomas Sydney Cooper. In 1828 he married and settled in Dover, where he made a living as a drawing master. He exhibited at the Royal Academy and the Royal Society of British Artists. In 1844 he opened the Cosmorama, a state-of-the art optic experience, in which he placed his views of Dover behind large convex lenses to create a sense of realism. The exhibition proved very attractive to the town’s wealthy visitors, who also bought Burgess’s paintings and prints. He produced many lithographic views of Dover—particularly popular were his military themed subjects, such as the killing of Sergeant John Monger at Archcliffe Fort in 1860.

Burgess’s original works are uncommon. A number of his paintings and drawings are now in public collections, including a body of work at Dover Museum.