John Russell Scientific Instruments
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
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
4
8
6
5
4
Creator: John Russell
‘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...
Category
1810s Scottish Antique John Russell Scientific Instruments
Materials
Metal
Related Items
"The Holy Bible" By Rev. John Brown, 1870s
Located in Palermo, IT
"The Holy Bible" By Rev. John Brown, 1870s
Old and new testaments.
Marginal references and illustrations;
An exact summary of the several books;
A paraphrase on the most obscure or i...
Category
1870s British Antique John Russell Scientific Instruments
Materials
Paper
Art Nouveau Architecture by Frank Russell
Located in valatie, NY
Art Nouveau Architecture by Frank Russell. Arch Cape Press, NY, 1986. Hardcover with dust jacket. With 68 color and 500 black and white illustrations. Architects of the fin de siècle (end of the century) organized by country, each chapter written by a well-known authority in the field. The introduction, by Roger-Henri Guerrand; Great Britain: arts and crafts and art nouveau, by Tim Benton; Spain: moderismo in Catalonia, by Tim Benton; Belgium: red steel and blue aesthetic, by Maurice Culot; France: Viollet-le-Duc to Tony Garnier: the passion of rationalism, by Francois Loyer; Holland: building towards an ideal: progressive architecture in Holland, by Richard Padovan; Switzerland: the temperate presence of art nouveau, by Jacques Gubler; Germany: Judgendstil: the early morning of the modern movement, by Ian Latham; Italy: liberty architecture in Italy, by Ezio Godoli; Czechoslovakia: the secession in Eastern Europe, by Anna Masarykova; Austria: to the limits of a language: Wagner, Olbrich, Hoffmann, by Ezio Godoli; USA: Louis Sullivan, Greene and Greene...
Category
1980s American Vintage John Russell Scientific Instruments
Materials
Paper
New / Old Stock Precision Wall Barometer in Brass by The Nature Company
Located in San Diego, CA
New / old stock precision wall barometer in brass by The Nature Company, circa 1990s. The piece is in excellent working condition with original box and measures 4.25"D x 1.75"H. #...
Category
Late 20th Century American Mid-Century Modern John Russell Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass
Aneroid Barometer Germany
Located in Norwell, MA
Aneroid barometer with polished brass face on an ornately carved two-toned backboard with hanging loop. Marked "West Germany". 10" ove...
Category
20th Century John Russell Scientific Instruments
French Eglomise Barometer
Located in Lincolnshire, GB
A fine decorative french eglomise barometer.
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique John Russell Scientific Instruments
English Mahogany Prince of Wales Banjo Barometer, Circa 1820
Located in Charleston, SC
English mahogany four dial banjo barometer with broken arch pediment, steel engraved face with Prince of Wales motif, and original rotating bone dial. Barometer can be restored to wo...
Category
1820s English George III Antique John Russell Scientific Instruments
Materials
Steel
19th Century Watchmaker's Precision Tool
Located in Norwalk, CT
This is a wonderful piece of 19th century historical memorabilia.
Category
19th Century European Antique John Russell Scientific Instruments
Barograph and Barometer by Negretti & Zambra
Located in Cheshire, GB
Unusual oak-cased barograph and barometer by Negretti & Zambra, having five glazed removable lid. The mechanical eight-day movement is housed i...
Category
Early 20th Century British John Russell Scientific Instruments
Materials
Oak
Oak barometer
Located in Cheshire, GB
Carved oak barometer, the shaped carved oak frame with rectangular thermometer above the silvered dial inscribed J. Durkin, Middlesbrough, encased in copper frame.
Dimensions
Height ...
Category
Early 20th Century British John Russell Scientific Instruments
Materials
Oak
English Stick Barometer by Worthington of London
Located in New Orleans, LA
This exceptional English stick barometer is a classic example of these intriguing meteorological instruments. Crafted by the esteemed Worthington & All...
Category
19th Century English Georgian Antique John Russell Scientific Instruments
Materials
Mahogany
"The Roosevelts and the Royals", Signed First Ed by Will Swift
Located in valatie, NY
The Roosevelts and the Royals: Franklin and Eleanor, the King and Queen of England, and the Friendship That Changed History by Will Swift. John Wiley and Sons Ltd, United States, 200...
Category
Early 2000s American John Russell Scientific Instruments
Materials
Paper
The Shaker World by John T. Kirk
Located in Bradenton, FL
The Shaker World by John T. Kirk. Hardcover book with dustjacket. Published by Harry N. Abrams, Inc. of New York. Printed and bound in Japan. 277 illustrat...
Category
Late 20th Century Shaker John Russell Scientific Instruments
Materials
Paper
John Russell scientific instruments for sale on 1stDibs.
John Russell scientific instruments 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 scientific instruments, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. Prices for John Russell scientific instruments can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $113,492 and can go as high as $113,492, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $113,492.