John Russell Paintings
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.to
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Artist: John Russell
18th century Portrait of a young girl, Miss Cator in a landscape, white dress
By John Russell
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Portrait of a young British Girl, in her white dress with Pink Sash.
Choosing to acquire an 18th-century portrait of a young girl by English artist John Russell is an opportunity to...
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“Still Life with Flowers and Fruit”
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Important 18th Century Pastel Portrait Painting Young Girl John Russell RA 1789
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An important authenticated & documented 18th century portrait by John Russell R A (1745-1809), England, signed & dated 1789.
This rather charming & sensitive portrait of a young girl...
Category
1780s English School John Russell Paintings
Materials
Oil Pastel
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Portrait of Mary Bushby with Dog - British Old Master Regency art painting
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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
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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 paintings for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a wide variety of authentic John Russell paintings available for sale on 1stDibs. You can also browse by medium to find art by John Russell in canvas, fabric, oil paint and more. Much of the original work by this artist or collective was created during the 1970s and is mostly associated with the Post-Impressionist style. Not every interior allows for large John Russell paintings, so small editions measuring 20 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of Marion Huse, Mino Maccari, and Frank Hill. John Russell paintings prices can differ depending upon medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $2,800 and tops out at $2,800, while the average work can sell for $2,800.