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John Russell

English, 1745-1806
Russell was born in Guildford, Surrey in 1745, his father John Snr was four times the mayor of the town and an artist himself. The young John Russell trained under Francis Cotes RA who was one of the pioneers of English pastel painting. Both he and Cotes were admirers of the celebrated Italian pastel artist Rosalba Carriera, her methods significantly influenced his technique of "sweetening". At 19 and much to the protests of his family & teacher he converted to Methodism. In 1767 he set up his studio in London when he met the notorious Dr. William Dodd, whose portrait he painted in 1768. At this time he had met the Countess of Huntingdon along with many other members of the nobility. In 1770 he married Hannah Faden and moved to Cavendish Square London. he travelled extensively painting around Britain, in 1770 he entered The Royal Academy of Art and won the the gold medal the same year, he also exhibited at The Society of Artists, he exhibited around 330 works at the Academy between 1769 until his death. In 1788 he painted a number of important commissions that led to him being appointed as pastel painter to King George III, he also painted Queen Charlotte, the Prince of Wales and the Duke of York. By this time Russell had developed an extensive fashionable & influential clientele. Russell was a deeply religious man and shunned the dinner circuit of London high society, due to concerns of being exposed to blasphemous conversation. He was however on good terms with Sir Joshua Reynolds with whom he dined with at the Academy, the Dilettanti Society and the Literary Club. Russell's work can be viewed at many of the prominent galleries in the UK and around the world including the National Portrait Gallery London, The Metropolitan Museum of Art New York but the largest collection is held by Guildford House Art Gallery in Guildford. Many of his portraits were engraved by, amongst others, Joseph Collyer, Charles Turner, James Heath, Dean, Bartolozzi and Trotter. Russell was troubled by ill-health he had contracted cholera and died of typhus in the city of Hull in 1806. John Russell is recognized as one of the greatest pastel painters.
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“Hon. George King, 1788” Pastel Portrait, Young Boy with Cricket Ball and Dog
“Hon. George King, 1788” Pastel Portrait, Young Boy with Cricket Ball and Dog

“Hon. George King, 1788” Pastel Portrait, Young Boy with Cricket Ball and Dog

By John Russell

Located in Yardley, PA

“Hon. George King, 1788” by John Russell (1745-1806) Regarded as Britain’s foremost pastellist, John Russell is well known for his portraits of the wealthy middle class. In particul...

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1780s Old Masters John Russell

Materials

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“Still Life with Flowers and Fruit”
“Still Life with Flowers and Fruit”

“Still Life with Flowers and Fruit”

By John Russell

Located in Southampton, NY

Beautifully painted oil on canvas still life with vase of flowers and a glass bowl of fruit. In the background is a painting of a young woman. Artist monogram lower right. The mon...

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1970s Post-Impressionist John Russell

Materials

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A Rare Ebonised Table Clock 18th Century
A Rare Ebonised Table Clock 18th Century

A Rare Ebonised Table Clock 18th Century

By John Russell

Located in Brooklyn, NY

A RARE EBONISED TABLE CLOCK WITH PIVOTTED DE BETHUNE TYPE ESCAPEMENT John Russell, Falkirk The bell top case with handle and four cone finials over pierced wooden sound frets on a pl...

Category

Late 18th Century Scottish George III Antique John Russell

Materials

Brass

Paris Photographs by Brassai text by John Russell 1st Edtion 1960
Paris Photographs by Brassai text by John Russell 1st Edtion 1960

Paris Photographs by Brassai text by John Russell 1st Edtion 1960

By John Russell, George Brassaï

Located in CA, CA

First edition, published by Batsford, 1960. Braissais's mesmeric photographs captures the everyday essence of Paris lead by John Russelli's elegant and erudite tour of the city, i...

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Mid-20th Century British John Russell

‘Royal’ Barometer by John Russell, Watchmaker to the Prince Regent
‘Royal’ Barometer by John Russell, Watchmaker to the Prince Regent

‘Royal’ Barometer by John Russell, Watchmaker to the Prince Regent

By John Russell

Located in Lymington, Hampshire

This superbly crafted wheel barometer and thermometer has a mahogany case surrounded by twisted brass stringing and central panels of foliate tendrils above Russell’s signature thistle motif in black and gilt verre églomisé. It is surmounted by a brass Prince of Wales feather finial. The long, rectangular thermometer plate is inscribed ‘Thermometers: Beaumar, Fahrenheit, Royal Society of London’, the latter being an early attempt to standardise temperature measurement. The circular dial is inscribed ‘Changeable, Fair, Settled Fair, Much Rain’ and ‘Rain’ and signed across the centre ‘J Russell, Falkirk, Invt et Fecit, Watch Maker to his R.H the Prince Regent’. The reverse has a paper label ‘Russell, Iden Collection Inventory 1896’. Scottish, circa 1815. Provenance: Mr Walter Iden. Published: Percy G. Dawson, The Iden Clock Collection, Woodbridge, 1987. No.125, p.280. These ‘royal barometers’ were so named because John Russell of Falkirk...

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1810s Scottish Antique John Russell

Materials

Metal

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This charming British Old Master Regency pastel portrait painting is by Royal Academy artist John Russell RA. He trained under Cotes and was much influenced by his admiration for Rosalba Carriera, a female Venetian Rococo painter and specialist in pastels. He was a prolific exhibitor at the Royal Academy. This painting dates to 1786. The painting is of Mary Alexaphina Bushby (1776-1823). Our research has found that Mary was daughter of John and Grizzel Bushby and she had 11 siblings. She later married William Curre from Momouthshire. Mary died in 1823 aged 47 having had 10 children. Interestingly, Robert Burns addressed an unpublished poem to her, a copy of which the artist passed to the Dumfries Burns Club. It would be fascinating to see a copy of this poem and to understand more of their relationship Provenance. Labels with provenance details verso. Condition. Pastel on paper laid on canvas, image size is 27 inches by 22 inches and in good condition. Housed in its original gilt frame with original glass, 35 inches by 30 inches framed and in good condition. John Russell RA (1745-1806) was an English painter renowned for his portrait work in oils and pastels, and as a writer and teacher of painting techniques. Russell was born in Guildford, Surrey, the son of John Russell Snr., book and print seller and five times mayor of the town; his father was something of an artist, and drew and published two views of Guildford. Russell was educated at the Royal Grammar School, Guildford, and soon showed a strong inclination for art. He trained under Francis Cotes RA (of Cavendish Square, London), one of the pioneers of English pastel painting, and, like Cotes, was an admirer of the pastel drawings of Rosalba Carriera whose methods influenced his technique of "sweetening". At the age of 19 he converted to Methodism, which was the cause of tension with his family and with his teacher; he made no secret of his strong evangelical leanings and would attempt to preach and convert at every opportunity. Russell set up his own studio, in London, in 1767. He made the acquaintance of the notorious Dr. William Dodd, whose portrait he painted in 1768. He was introduced to Selina, Countess of Huntingdon, who unsuccessfully attempted to persuade him to give up painting and attend her Methodist ministers' training college at Trevecca in Wales. On 5 February 1770, he married Hannah Faden, daughter of a Charing Cross print and map seller...

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John Russell furniture for sale on 1stDibs.

John Russell furniture are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of wood and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of John Russell furniture, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original furniture by John Russell were created in the mid-century modern style in united kingdom during the mid-20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider furniture by Lord Snowdon, Mobo Toys, and His Masters Voice. Prices for John Russell furniture can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $185 and can go as high as $111,754, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $486.

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