Daniel Maclise (1806-1870)

One of the few artists in Dickens's circle with formal training, Daniel Maclise gave up a career in medicine to pursue painting. He studied at the Royal Academy in 1828 and began exhibiting work in 1830. A close friend of Dickens and his family, he painted the best known portrait of Dickens and in 1842 at the request of Dickens's wife drew a portrait of the children for her to take on their trip to America. Maclise contributed one illustration to The Old Curiosity Shop and several etchings for the Christmas books including frontispieces. The successful painter found working with Dickens for publication frustrating, but continued to work with him out of friendship.