Coutts Lindsay
Encyclopedia
Sir Coutts Lindsay, 2nd Baronet (2 February 1824-7 May 1913, Kingston upon Thames
, England), was a British artist and watercolourist.
. His mother was Anne, daughter of Sir Coutts Trotter, 1st Baronet, a principal partner in Coutt's Bank
. Robert Loyd-Lindsay, 1st Baron Wantage, was his younger brother. In 1839 he succeeded by special remainder to his maternal grandfather's baronetcy (which became extinct on Lindsay's own death). He then entered the army, commanding the 1st Regiment of the Italian Legion during the Crimean War
before retiring from military life to devote himself to art. From 1862 to 1874 he exhibited many pictures, including various successful portraits. In 1879 he and his first wife, Lady Lindsay (of Balcarres), were both elected to membership of the Institute of Painters in Water Colours
. His studio at 4-5 Cromwell Place was also used by Archibald Stuart-Wortley.
He and his first wife founded the Grosvenor Gallery
in 1877 as an alternative to the Royal Academy. It was devoted to exhibiting works by the Pre-Raphaelites (then held to be too stylistically advanced for the Royal Academy
) and becoming the focus of the Aesthetic Movement from then until its closure in 1890. Its inaugural exhibition on 1 May 1877 included James Whistler
's "Nocturne in Black and Gold: The Falling Rocket", leading to the famous libel trial between Whistler and John Ruskin
. Coutts was important to the careers of Coutts' friends Whistler and George Frederic Watts
in providing a sympathetic venue for the display of their work. However, the gallery declined after Lindsay separated from his first wife, and it closed in 1890. In the 30 years before her death she then lived in London and Venice
, gathering a circle of friends including Alma Tadema, GF Watts and Robert Browning
and collecting a number of fine paintings (some of which she left to the National Gallery
). She also published several volumes of poetry, including From a Venetian Balcony (1903) and Poems of Love and Death (1907).
by his wife Hannah Mayer de Rothschild (daughter of Nathan Meyer Rothschild).
Kingston upon Thames
Kingston upon Thames is the principal settlement of the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames in southwest London. It was the ancient market town where Saxon kings were crowned and is now a suburb situated south west of Charing Cross. It is one of the major metropolitan centres identified in the...
, England), was a British artist and watercolourist.
Life
Lindsay was the eldest son of Lieutenant-General Sir James Lindsay, son of the Hon. Robert Lindsay, second son of James Lindsay, 5th Earl of BalcarresJames Lindsay, 5th Earl of Balcarres
James Lindsay, 5th Earl of Balcarres was a Scottish peer, the son of Colin, 3rd Earl of Balcarres and Lady Margaret Campbell, daughter of the Earl of Loudoun...
. His mother was Anne, daughter of Sir Coutts Trotter, 1st Baronet, a principal partner in Coutt's Bank
Coutts
Coutts & Co. is one of the UK's private banking houses, now wholly owned by the Royal Bank of Scotland . RBS acquired Coutts and all of its overseas subsidiaries when it bought NatWest. On 1 January 2008, Coutts' international businesses were renamed RBS Coutts, aligning them more closely with...
. Robert Loyd-Lindsay, 1st Baron Wantage, was his younger brother. In 1839 he succeeded by special remainder to his maternal grandfather's baronetcy (which became extinct on Lindsay's own death). He then entered the army, commanding the 1st Regiment of the Italian Legion during the Crimean War
Crimean War
The Crimean War was a conflict fought between the Russian Empire and an alliance of the French Empire, the British Empire, the Ottoman Empire, and the Kingdom of Sardinia. The war was part of a long-running contest between the major European powers for influence over territories of the declining...
before retiring from military life to devote himself to art. From 1862 to 1874 he exhibited many pictures, including various successful portraits. In 1879 he and his first wife, Lady Lindsay (of Balcarres), were both elected to membership of the Institute of Painters in Water Colours
Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours
The Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours , initially called the New Society of Painters in Water Colours, , is one of the societies in the Federation of British Artists, based in the Mall Galleries in London.-History:In 1831 the society was founded as the New Society of Painters in Water...
. His studio at 4-5 Cromwell Place was also used by Archibald Stuart-Wortley.
He and his first wife founded the Grosvenor Gallery
Grosvenor Gallery
The Grosvenor Gallery was an art gallery in London founded in 1877 by Sir Coutts Lindsay and his wife Blanche. Its first directors were J. Comyns Carr and Charles Hallé...
in 1877 as an alternative to the Royal Academy. It was devoted to exhibiting works by the Pre-Raphaelites (then held to be too stylistically advanced for the Royal Academy
Royal Academy
The Royal Academy of Arts is an art institution based in Burlington House on Piccadilly, London. The Royal Academy of Arts has a unique position in being an independent, privately funded institution led by eminent artists and architects whose purpose is to promote the creation, enjoyment and...
) and becoming the focus of the Aesthetic Movement from then until its closure in 1890. Its inaugural exhibition on 1 May 1877 included James Whistler
James Whistler
James Whistler is the name of:* James Abbott McNeill Whistler , American-born, British-based artist, known for the painting colloquially known as Whistler's Mother...
's "Nocturne in Black and Gold: The Falling Rocket", leading to the famous libel trial between Whistler and John Ruskin
John Ruskin
John Ruskin was the leading English art critic of the Victorian era, also an art patron, draughtsman, watercolourist, a prominent social thinker and philanthropist. He wrote on subjects ranging from geology to architecture, myth to ornithology, literature to education, and botany to political...
. Coutts was important to the careers of Coutts' friends Whistler and George Frederic Watts
George Frederic Watts
George Frederic Watts, OM was a popular English Victorian painter and sculptor associated with the Symbolist movement. Watts became famous in his lifetime for his allegorical works, such as Hope and Love and Life...
in providing a sympathetic venue for the display of their work. However, the gallery declined after Lindsay separated from his first wife, and it closed in 1890. In the 30 years before her death she then lived in London and Venice
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
, gathering a circle of friends including Alma Tadema, GF Watts and Robert Browning
Robert Browning
Robert Browning was an English poet and playwright whose mastery of dramatic verse, especially dramatic monologues, made him one of the foremost Victorian poets.-Early years:...
and collecting a number of fine paintings (some of which she left to the National Gallery
National Gallery, London
The National Gallery is an art museum on Trafalgar Square, London, United Kingdom. Founded in 1824, it houses a collection of over 2,300 paintings dating from the mid-13th century to 1900. The gallery is an exempt charity, and a non-departmental public body of the Department for Culture, Media...
). She also published several volumes of poetry, including From a Venetian Balcony (1903) and Poems of Love and Death (1907).
Marriages
He first married in 1864 to the distinguished artist and poet Caroline Blanche Elizabeth Fitzroy (died 10 August 1912, London), daughter of the Rt. Hon. Henry FitzroyHenry Fitzroy (statesman)
Henry FitzRoy was a British politician of the mid-nineteenth century.-Background:FitzRoy was second son of Lieutenant-General George FitzRoy, 2nd Baron Southampton, by his second wife Frances Isabella, daughter of Lord Robert Seymour...
by his wife Hannah Mayer de Rothschild (daughter of Nathan Meyer Rothschild).
Plays
- Alfred
- Edward the Black Prince
- Boadicea: A Tragedy, 1957
External links
- Portraits of him, National Portrait Gallery
- http://www.whistler.arts.gla.ac.uk/biog/Lind_C.htm
- John Hannavay, Encyclopedia of Nineteenth-century Photography