Paul falconer poole biography of william

​POOLE, PAUL FALCONER (1807–1879), historical painter, fourth son of James Paul Poole, a small grocer, was born at 43 College Street, Bristol, on 28 Dec.

1807. An elder brother, James Poole, a merchant, was mayor of Bristol in 1858–9, and chairman of the Taff Vale Railway Company, and of the Bristol Docks Committee. He died on 24 Dec. 1872, aged 75.

Paul was baptised in St.

Augustine's Church in that city on 22 July 1810 by the names of Paul ‘Fawkner.’ He received little general education, and as an artist was almost entirely self-taught, to which cause must be ascribed ​the imperfect drawing that is observable in much of his work.

He came to London early, and in 1830 exhibited at the Royal Academy his first picture, ‘The Well, a scene at Naples,’ but during the next seven years his name does not appear in the catalogues. He, however, contributed to the exhibitions of the Society of British Artis