Michael Bryan, A Biographical and Critical Dictionary of Painters and Engravers (Bryan, 1816, pp.479–80)

GIRTIN, Thomas. This ingenious English artist was born in 1775, and was a pupil of Edward Dayes. He was one of the most admired landscape painters of his time, and was among the first founders of that tasteful style of designing landscape in watercolours, which our countrymen have carried to such perfection. On the occasion of the peace of Amiens, Mr. Girtin went to Paris, where he made twenty drawings of the principal views in that metropolis, of which he etched the outlines, and the plates were finished in aquatinta by other artists. Though of a very weak and delicate constitution, such was his attachment to the art, that he continued to exercise his profession till within a few days of his death, though in a state of the most deplorable debility. This interesting artist died in 1802, at the premature age of 27, regretted by every admirer of taste and genius.

30 November 1816

Royal Academy of Arts, London, Council Minutes, 30 November 1816 (Royal Academy of Arts Archive (RAA/PC/1/33))

Read a petition for assistance from Mr. J. Girtin, brother to the late ingenious Artist of that name, stating that he had lost the greater part of his Property by fire. … Sir W Beechey moved & was seconded by Mr. Dawe that Ten Guineas be paid to Mr. Girtin by the Treasurer.