FOX, Charles

c.1794 - 1849

As Carolus Fox, he was born around 1794 and baptised at Costessey, Norfolk on 18 March 1795, son of Roberti Fox, steward to Lord Stafford of Costessey Hall, Norwich, and his wife Mariae née Hatton. Charles spent his childhood in the gardens of Costessey Hall where he obtained his lifelong interest in horticulture. He studied drawing under Charles Hodgson (1769-1856) at his new school in Norwich and trained as an etcher at Bungay, Suffolk under William Camden Edwards. He afterwards went to London and assisted in the studio of John Burnet (c.1781/4-1868), who at that time was engaged in engraving some of Wilkie's principal works and assisted Burnet in their completion. When Norwich born horticulturalist John Lindley (1799-1865), succeeded as secretary of the Horticultural Society in 1830, Fox was chosen as a judge and arbitrator for its prizes and worked on their annual publications. He also executed all the engravings for their periodical 'The Florist', as well as working on watercolours of plants and made portraits of his friends. Charles Fox died at Rawston Street, Brompton, Middlesex on 5 May 1849, being described as 'artist' and his will is at the National Archives, London.

---

Works by This Artist