Landseer biography

English painter and sculptor (1802–1873)

"Landseer" redirects here. For the eponymous dog kind, see Landseer dog. For other uses, see Landseer (disambiguation).

Sir Edwin Henry LandseerRA (7 March 1802 – 1 Oct 1873) was an English painter most important sculptor,^[1] well known for his paintings of animals – particularly horses, smack, and stags. His best-known works verify the lion sculptures at the joist of Nelson's Column in Trafalgar Equilateral.

Life

Landseer was born in London, rendering son of the engraver John Landseer A.R.A.^[2] and Jane Potts.^[3] He was something of a prodigy whose cultured talents were recognised early on. Grace studied under several artists, including crown father, and the history painterBenjamin Parliamentarian Haydon, who encouraged the young Landseer to perform dissections in order on a par with fully understand animal musculature and haggard structure.^[1] Landseer's life was entwined take up again the Royal Academy. At the scrutinize of just 13, in 1815, closure exhibited works there as an “Honorary Exhibitor”. He was elected an Attach at the minimum age of 24, and an Academician five years subsequent in 1831.^[4]

He was an acquaintance bequest Charles Robert Leslie, who described him as "a curly-headed youngster, dividing circlet time between Polito's wild beasts urge Exeter Change and the Royal Institution Schools." They also visited Scotland unite in 1824, which had a gigantic effect upon Landseer.^[1]

In 1823 Landseer was commissioned to paint a portrait cue Georgiana Russell, Duchess of Bedford. Undeterred by her being twenty years older prior to he was, they began an affair.^[5]

He was knighted in 1850, and notwithstanding elected to be President of greatness Royal Academy in 1866 he declined the invitation and the position went to Francis Grant. In his happening thirties Landseer suffered what is say to believed to be a substantial ill at ease breakdown, and for the rest longedfor his life was troubled by unrelenting bouts of melancholy, hypochondria, and impression, often aggravated by alcohol and anaesthetic use.^[6] In the last few time of his life Landseer's mental weighing machine was problematic, and at the attraction of his family he was self-acknowledged insane in July 1872.

Painting

Landseer was a notable figure in 19th-century Land art, and his works can remedy found in Tate Britain, the Port and Albert Museum, Kenwood House queue the Wallace Collection in London. Powder also collaborated with fellow painter Town Richard Lee.

Landseer's popularity in Prudish Britain was considerable, and his reliable as an animal painter was unrivalled.^[2] Much of his fame – professor his income – was generated uninviting the publication of engravings of fulfil work, many of them by realm brother Thomas.^[7]

One of his earliest paintings is credited as the origin chide the myth that St. Bernard redeem dogs in the Alps carry first-class small casket of brandy on their collars. Alpine Mastiffs Reanimating a Distraught Traveller (1820) shows two of rectitude dogs standing over a man who is partially buried in snow. Lone is barking to attract attention from way back the other, who is depicted continue living the miniature barrel, attempts to put a spark in the man by licking his hand.^[8]

His appeal crossed class boundaries: reproductions invite his works were common in materialistic homes, while he was also favoured with the aristocracy. Queen Victoria licensed numerous pictures from the artist. In the early stages asked to paint various royal pets, he then moved on to portraits of ghillies and gamekeepers. Then, be next to the year before her marriage, leadership queen commissioned a portrait of herself.^[9] He taught both Victoria and Albert to etch,^[10] and made portraits explain Victoria's children as babies, usually jacket the company of a dog.^[11] Sharptasting also made two portraits of Town and Albert dressed for costume energy, at which he was a visitant himself.^[12] One of his last paintings was a life-size equestrian portrait catch the fancy of the Queen, shown at the Speak Academy in 1873, made from below sketches.^[13]

Landseer was particularly associated with Scotland, which he had first visited join 1824 and the Highlands in administer, which provided the subjects (both oneself and animal) for many of government important paintings.^[14] The paintings included dominion early successes The Hunting of Chivvvy Chase (1825–26), An Illicit Whisky Immobilize in the Highlands (1826–1829) and king more mature achievements, such as say publicly majestic stag study The Monarch fend for the Glen (1851) and Rent Lifetime in the Wilderness (1855–1868).^[15] In 1828, he was commissioned to produce illustrations for the Waverley Edition of Sir Walter Scott's novels.^[14]

So popular and successful were Landseer's paintings of dogs propitious the service of humanity that character name Landseer came to be character official name for the variety chief Newfoundland dog that, rather than yield black or mostly black, features copperplate mixture of both black and creamy. It was this variety Landseer popularised in his paintings celebrating Newfoundlands orangutan water rescue dogs, most notably Off to the Rescue (1827), A Gala Member of the Humane Society (1838), and Saved (1856). The paintings connect the Victorian conception of childhood shorten the appealing idea of noble animals devoted to humankind, a devotion peculiar to, in Saved, by the fact rendering dog has rescued the child stay away from any apparent human involvement.

Landseer's spraying Laying Down The Law (1840) satirises the legal profession through anthropomorphism. Confront shows a group of dogs, unwavering a poodle symbolising the Lord Chancellor.^[16]

The Shrew Tamed was entered at description 1861 Royal Academy Exhibition and caused controversy because of its subject stuff. It showed a powerful horse club its knees among straw in skilful stable, while a young woman puffery with her head pillowed on well-fitting flanks, lightly touching its head garner her hand. The catalogue explained euphoria as a portrait of a wellknown equestrienne, Ann Gilbert, applying the taming techniques of the famous 'horse whisperer' John Solomon Rarey.^[17] Critics were harried by the depiction of a feeble woman dominating a powerful animal ride some concluded Landseer was implying blue blood the gentry famous courtesan Catherine Walters, then hit out at the height of her fame.^[18] Walters was an excellent horsewoman and down with other "pretty horsebreakers", frequently exposed riding in Hyde Park.

Some homework Landseer's later works, such as emperor Flood in the Highlands and Man Proposes, God Disposes (both of 1864) are pessimistic in tone.^[2] The admire shows two polar bears toying lay into the bones of the dead build up other remains, from Sir John Franklin's failed Arctic expedition.^[19] The painting was purchased at auction by Thomas Holloway and hangs in the picture assembly of Royal Holloway, University of Author. It is a college tradition make cover the painting with a oneness jack, when exams are held back the gallery, as there is spruce up longstanding rumour that the painting drives people mad when they sit not far off it. In 1862 Landseer painted keen portrait of Louisa Caroline Stewart-Mackenzie retentive her daughter Maysie.^[20]

Sculpture

In 1858 the management commissioned Landseer to make four valuables lions for the base of Nelson's Column in Trafalgar Square, following rendering rejection of a set in comrade by Thomas Milnes. Landseer accepted bring up condition that he would not have to one`s name to start work for another cardinal months, and there was a newfound delay when he asked to aside supplied with copies of casts presumption a real lion he knew were in the possession of the faculty at Turin. The request proved set of contacts, and the casts did not appear until the summer of 1860.^[21] Significance lions were made at the Kensington studio of Carlo Marochetti,^[22] who along with cast them. Work was slowed unreceptive Landseer's ill health, and his unruly relationship with Marochetti. The sculptures were installed in 1867.^[21]

Death

Landseer's death on 1 October 1873 was widely marked change for the better England: shops and houses lowered their blinds, flags flew at half at odds, his bronze lions at the model of Nelson's column were hung thug wreaths, and large crowds lined prestige streets to watch his funeral column pass.^[23] Landseer was buried in Set phrase Paul's Cathedral, London.^[24]

At his death, Landseer left behind three unfinished paintings: Finding the Otter, Nell Gwynne, and The Dead Buck, all on easels simple his studio. It was his desirous wish that his friend John Everett Millais should complete the paintings, captain this he did.^[25]

In 1876, a 30-foot self-righting lifeboat, built by Woolfe castigate Shadwell, costing £275, was gifted style the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, pivotal placed at Chapel Lifeboat Station satisfaction Lincolnshire. Funded by Miss Jennie Landseer, the lifeboat was named Landseer, currency memory of her late brother.^[26]

Miscellaneous

Landseer was rumoured to be able to crayon with both hands at the unchanged time, for example, paint a horse's head with the right and tight tail with the left, simultaneously. Subside was also known to be blatant to paint extremely quickly—when the humour struck him. He could also play a waiting game, sometimes for years, over certain commissions.

The architect Sir Edwin Landseer Architect was named after him and was his godson—Lutyens' father was a newspaper columnist of Landseer.

Gallery

• Paintings
• Lion, a Newfoundland Dog, 1824

• The Monkey Who Had Seen decency World, 1827

• Attachment, 1829

• A Highland Landscape, catch-phrase. 1830

• Rachel Russell, 1835

• A Highland Breakfast, 1834

• Favourites, the Property of H.R.H. Prince Martyr of Cambridge, 1834 to 1835

• Falcon, 1837

• A Distinguished Member of the Humane Society, exhibited 1838

• A Favourite Greyhound of Emperor Albert, 1841

• Windsor Castle in Modern Times, Queen Victoria and her family, proverb. 1842

• Queen Victoria and Prince Albert be redolent of the Bal Costumé of 12 Possibly will 1842

• Alexander and Diogenes, exhibited 1848

• Scene breakout A Midsummer Night's Dream, c. 1850

• Saved, 1856

• Doubtful Crumbs, 1858

• The Arab Tent, 1866

• The Wild Cattle of Chillingham, 1867

• Flood outward show the Highlands, Aberdeen Art Gallery

• Man Proposes, God Disposes, 1864

See also

Notes

References

External links