Moses Griffith (1747 - 1819)

Welsh artist and watercolourist best known for his lifelong partnership with naturalist Thomas Pennant. Born in Caernarfonshire, Griffith showed early talent, catching Pennant’s attention in 1769, who hired him initially as a servant before mentoring him into a full-time artist. As Pennant’s companion, Griffith traveled extensively through Wales and Scotland, creating hundreds of detailed, precise illustrations for works like A Tour in Wales (1778) and British Zoology. Beyond his work for Pennant, Griffith produced commissions for patrons like Francis Grose, documenting British topography, ruins, and natural history. Following Pennant’s death in 1798, Griffith continued working for the family before dying in 1819, leaving behind a significant legacy in 18th-century British art, with collections held at the National Library of Wales, the British Museum, and the Victoria and Albert Museum. source; Linda Hall Library