FRIENDS OF CLAINES CHuRCH

EF & TF Burney

Edward Francis Burney (1760-1848) enrolled in the Royal Academy School in 1776, and was encouraged in his career by its President, Joshua Reynolds. He produced many book illustrations, including Milton's Paradise Lost, as well as some portraits.

His brother was Thomas Frederick Burney, a genius for pen-and-ink drawings. He died in 1785 at the age of 20.

Both Edward and Thomas were born and brought up in Worcester, where their father was in charge of a school of dancing and music. They lived at Barbourne Lodge in Claines, with their three brothers and three sisters.

The Burney family were prominent in the arts, including their uncle who was the musicologist Charles Burney, and their cousin the novelist Fanny Burney. Edward illustrated his cousin's work, Evelina. Their brother Charles Rousseau Burney was a well-known performer on the harpsichord who appeared at the Worcester Festival in 1767.

The Burney watercolours and drawings, which were intended as additions to the Plates in Dr Nash's “History of Worcestershire” in 1784, included one of Claines Church, shown below.

East view of Claines Church 1784, EF Burney