Brief Biography-Thomas Faed of Kirkcudbrightshire learned from his brother John in Edinburgh, and the Art School admitted him when he was fifteen. He entered the Scottish Academy at twenty-three and moved to London in 1852. His paintings were a success almost overnight, beginning with The Mirthless Bairn, first exhibited at Trafalgar Square. His depictions of abject poverty in his genre paintings excelled him to fame. He eventually became a Royal Academician at the academy. Sadly, he had to resign from his membership in 1893 due to failing eyesight, and he became blind for the last seven years. To this day, Thomas Faed is considered one of the foremost Scottish artists of his time.