Walter Francis Brown

Walter Francis Brown was born to the marriage of Samuel Welch Brown (1824–1907) and Mary Elizabeth Thurber (maiden; 1827–1912). He earned a Bachelor of Philosophy degree from Brown University in 1873.^[3][4] He continued his studies in Paris at the École des Beaux-Arts with Jean-Léon Gérôme (1824–1904) and Léon Bonnat (1833–1922).^[5] Brown then moved to Venice, established a studio at Palazzo da Mula, and specialized, among other things, painting city views. He illustrated books, including Settlement of Rhode Island (1874), by Charles Thurber Miller (1828–1876),^[6] and A Tramp Abroad (1889), by Mark Twain.^[7][2] He also contributed to Harper's Weekly, Leslie's, and St. Nicholas. Much of Brown's work is held by Brown University at the John Hay Library.

• Wright, Margaret Barker (May 1878). "Bohemian Days". Scribner's Monthly. 14 (1). Brown, Walter Francis (illustrator): 121–129. Retrieved February 23, 2021 – via Google Books.
• Reynolds, Daniel Carpenter (1876). Romance in Smoke (children's poetry with illustrations). Brown, Walter Francis (illustrator). pp. 121–129. LCCN 29025577. OCLC 669225223. Retrieved February 23, 2021 – via Internet Archive.

• From A Tramp Abroad
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• Other works
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  "Venice"
  Stephen Parrish (1846–1938), etcher
  Brown, artist
  ©1880, Christian Klackner (1850–1919), New York
  LCCN 96-512385

Brown, in 1885, married Louise Tifft Beckwith (maiden; 1854–1932). His younger brother, Arthur Lewis Brown (1854–1928), was, from 1896 to 1927, United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island. They both are nephews of naturalist and writer George Thurber (1821–1890).

Walter Franics Brown was a 5th great-grandson of Rev. Chad Brown, the progenitor of the Brown family of Rhode Island.

Brown was a first cousin – 3 times removed – of the four brothers who were instrumental in relocating Brown University to Providence and securing its endowment: (i) Nicholas Brown (1729–1791), (ii) Joseph Brown (1733–1785), (iii) John Brown (1736–1803), and (iv) Moses Brown (1738–1836). One of Nicholas's sons, Nicholas Brown, Jr. (1769–1841) is the university's namesake.