One of the artistic works in Green Palace is a painting called: “coming out of school”, painted by Thomas Webster in 1836 which had been exhibited at the Royal Academy of London in the same year.
Thomas Webster was an English genre painter, who lived for many years at the artists' colony in Cranbrook. His father was a member of the household of George III, and the son, having shown an aptitude for music, became a chorister in London. In 1821 was admitted as a student to the Royal Academy, exhibiting, in 1824, portraits of "Mrs. Robinson and Family." In the following year he won first prize in the school of painting.
Webster became known for his genre paintings, often with children as subjects, depicting incidents from everyday life in a genial and humorous way. Many of these were exceedingly popular, particularly his "Punch" (1840) with which he procured associate membership of the Royal Academy.
In the limited range of subjects which he made his own, Webster was unrivalled. Some of his pictures - such as 'Please remember the Grotto', 'Snowballing' and maybe 'The Swing' - were produced as prints by Abraham Le Blond. 'The Smile' (1841), 'The Frown' and 'The Boy with Many Friends', are among the numerous pictures which became well known by engravings.
Other paintings include: The Truant (1836), In Sickness and Health ' (1843), The artist’s father and mother (first exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1844), A Dame’s School (1845) and The Village Choir ' (1847). Webster also contributed work to volumes issued by the London-based Etching Club: 'The Deserted Village' (1841), 'Songs of Shakespeare' (1843), and 'Etch'd Thoughts' (1844).
He died on 23 Sept 1886.