Abraham Pether

Abraham Pether (8 October 1752 – 13 April 1812) was an English landscape painter, recognised for his skill in depicting moonlit scenes. He was also a talented musician, inventor, mathematician and philosopher.

Life and work

Abraham was born on 8th October 1752 in St. James', Piccadilly in London. He was the nephew of the eminent engraver William Pether.

Pether was a major exhibitor with both the Free Society of Artists and the Incorporated Society of Artists from 1773 to 1791, and at the Royal Academy from 1784 to 1811. He also invented his own type of pencil.

Abraham Pether and his sons Sebastian (1793–1844) and Henry Pether (1800–1880), specialised in moonlit scenes. It is thought that Abraham had a brother called Thomas Pether (they are recorded as sharing a residence); the latter was a wax modeller who exhibited portraits in wax with the Free Society of Artists from 1772 to 1781.