1786 - 1839

Quick facts

  • Top-ranked work: Self portrait
  • Born: 1786, Kuala Kedah, Malaysia
  • Copyright status: Public domain
  • Art period: 19th Century
  • Lifespan: 53 years
  • Works on this site: 1

The Life and Vision of William Light

William Light was a British military officer, surveyor, and painter. Born in Kuala Kedah, Malaysia, he was the son of Francis Light and Martinha Rozells. After being educated in Suffolk, England, he served in the Royal Navy and later the British Army, participating in the Peninsular War under the Duke of Wellington. His travels took him through France, Italy, and Sicily, and he eventually traveled to Egypt, where he became friends with Muhammad Ali, Pasha. In 1836, he arrived in South Australia as the first Surveyor-General. He is noted for choosing the site of Adelaide and designing its layout, which included a grid pattern of streets, six public squares, and the Adelaide Park Lands.

Artistic and Professional Legacy

As a gifted painter and sketcher, Light produced various works, including watercolours and an incomplete self-portrait in oils. His artistic output included sketches of Egypt and views of Pompeii. Some of his paintings are held in the following locations:

Light's professional life was marked by his significant role in the founding of the province of South Australia. He was involved in surveying the Port River and the town of Glenelg. Despite facing opposition regarding his choice of the city site, his plan for Adelaide remains a lasting legacy. He died in Adelaide in 1839.

Spørsmål og svar

Hvor kan jeg se alle kunstverk av William Light?

Utforsk alle verk av William Light på denne nettsiden via kunstnerens Alle kunstverk-side.

Hvordan finner jeg alle verk av William Light innenfor et bestemt medium?

William Light sine verk kan utforskes etter medium på William Light sin Alle medier-side.

Finnes det en virtuell 3D-omvisning av William Light sine verk?

Et virtuelt besøk er mulig: Virtuelt 3D-galleri-siden til William Light presenterer kunstnerens verk i et tredimensjonalt galleri.

Kan jeg bla gjennom William Light sine verk etter fargepalett?

Siden Etter fargepalett grupperer William Light sine kunstverk etter fargepalett.

Quick quiz

Det er kun ett riktig svar på hvert spørsmål.

Spørsmål 1:
In which country was William Light born?
Spørsmål 2:
What was William Light's role in the new British Province of South Australia?
Spørsmål 3:
Which city's layout was designed by William Light?
Spørsmål 4:
What was the name of the survey brig that Light sailed to South Australia on in 1836?
Spørsmål 5:
Which of these was a profession held by William Light?