Henry Liverseege
Encyclopedia
Henry Liverseege was an English genre painter of literary and folklore
subjects.
and following his death in 1832 it was discovered that one of his lungs had failed to develop. He also had a spinal deformity which caused his left shoulder to be noticeably lower than the right. Even when in his twenties, he was reported to weigh as little as 70-75 lbs. Perhaps as a consequence of his infirmities, his father rejected him and he was brought up by his uncle John Green, a Manchester cotton mill
owner. He was educated in a small Manchester school but did not progress to university. He showed an early interest in the arts, became involved in amateur theatricals for a while and demonstrated a talent for drawing.
each. He had no formal artistic training and contemporary critics described his portraits as 'indifferent'. No portraits attributed to him have apparently survived. He also painted a number of inn signs for Manchester hotels. This work equally brought only modest renumeration.
in 1827. These were three small works 'Banditti Attacking Travellers', 'Banditti Carousing' and 'A Robber on the Outlook'. These sold, but only for small prices. He was more successful that same year with his painting of 'Adam Woodcock' from Walter Scott
's 'The Abbott' which was purchased by Thomas Egerton, 2nd Earl of Wilton
, of Heaton Hall.
He now made a number of visits to London
where he sketched from works in the Royal Academy
and the British Museum
. He also attended some classes at a London art school. He applied to enter the Royal Academy as a student but was rejected on the technicality that he had failed to submit the required character references. While in London, he became acquainted with William Etty
and with Sir Thomas Lawrence, the artist whose work he regarded as the finest. It was Lawrence who provided his letter of introduction to the Royal Academy.
Despite their rejection of his application to study, he nevertheless exhibited at the Royal Academy
in 1831 and one of his oil paintings, 'Sir Piercie Shafton and Mysie Happer', based upon characters from Walter Scott's 'The Monastery
', was purchased by William Cavendish, 6th Duke of Devonshire
. The painting has remained in the Devonshire Collection to the present day.
.
Thirty years after his death, when St. Luke's was rebuilt, a memorial was erected by a subscription raised by the editor of the Manchester Guardian. The church was demolished in the 1960s but the memorial was saved. He was the subject of several obituaries, some of which described him as 'The English Wilkie' comparing him with David Wilkie
, the highly-regarded Scottish painter. All recognised that had he lived, his talent would have brought him greater recognition.
in Manchester. Manchester Art Gallery
also holds several of his paintings as well as the memorial stone which was erected in (the now demolished) St. Luke's Church. Works can also be found in Tate Britain
and the National Army Museum
. Shortly after his death a folio edition of engravings made from his paintings was published. This was published in a second edition in 1875.
Folklore
Folklore consists of legends, music, oral history, proverbs, jokes, popular beliefs, fairy tales and customs that are the traditions of a culture, subculture, or group. It is also the set of practices through which those expressive genres are shared. The study of folklore is sometimes called...
subjects.
Early years
Henry Liverseege was born in Manchester, the son of Edmund Liverseege, a joiner. He was a weakly child who suffered from asthmaAsthma
Asthma is the common chronic inflammatory disease of the airways characterized by variable and recurring symptoms, reversible airflow obstruction, and bronchospasm. Symptoms include wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath...
and following his death in 1832 it was discovered that one of his lungs had failed to develop. He also had a spinal deformity which caused his left shoulder to be noticeably lower than the right. Even when in his twenties, he was reported to weigh as little as 70-75 lbs. Perhaps as a consequence of his infirmities, his father rejected him and he was brought up by his uncle John Green, a Manchester cotton mill
Cotton mill
A cotton mill is a factory that houses spinning and weaving machinery. Typically built between 1775 and 1930, mills spun cotton which was an important product during the Industrial Revolution....
owner. He was educated in a small Manchester school but did not progress to university. He showed an early interest in the arts, became involved in amateur theatricals for a while and demonstrated a talent for drawing.
Early career
The financially comfortable circumstances of Liverseege's uncle, allowed him to pursue a career as an artist and his earliest work was painting portraits for commissions at around five guineasGuinea (British coin)
The guinea is a coin that was minted in the Kingdom of England and later in the Kingdom of Great Britain and the United Kingdom between 1663 and 1813...
each. He had no formal artistic training and contemporary critics described his portraits as 'indifferent'. No portraits attributed to him have apparently survived. He also painted a number of inn signs for Manchester hotels. This work equally brought only modest renumeration.
Later career
Around 1826 Liverseege graduated from painting inn signs and portraits to specialising in genre paintings based on characters and scenes from literature and folklore. His first genre paintings were exhibited at the exhibition of the Royal Manchester InstitutionRoyal Manchester Institution
The Royal Manchester Institution was an English learned society founded on 1 October 1823 at a public meeting held in the Exchange Room by Manchester merchants, local artists and others keen to dispel the image of Manchester as a city lacking in culture and taste.The Institution was housed in a...
in 1827. These were three small works 'Banditti Attacking Travellers', 'Banditti Carousing' and 'A Robber on the Outlook'. These sold, but only for small prices. He was more successful that same year with his painting of 'Adam Woodcock' from Walter Scott
Walter Scott
Sir Walter Scott, 1st Baronet was a Scottish historical novelist, playwright, and poet, popular throughout much of the world during his time....
's 'The Abbott' which was purchased by Thomas Egerton, 2nd Earl of Wilton
Thomas Egerton, 2nd Earl of Wilton
Thomas Egerton, 2nd Earl of Wilton GCH, PC , known as Thomas Grosvenor until 1814, was a British nobleman and Tory politician...
, of Heaton Hall.
He now made a number of visits to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
where he sketched from works in 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 the British Museum
British Museum
The British Museum is a museum of human history and culture in London. Its collections, which number more than seven million objects, are amongst the largest and most comprehensive in the world and originate from all continents, illustrating and documenting the story of human culture from its...
. He also attended some classes at a London art school. He applied to enter the Royal Academy as a student but was rejected on the technicality that he had failed to submit the required character references. While in London, he became acquainted with William Etty
William Etty
William Etty was an English painter, best known for his paintings of nudes.-Beginnings:In accordance with the wishes of his father, Etty served seven years of apprenticeship to a printer in Hull...
and with Sir Thomas Lawrence, the artist whose work he regarded as the finest. It was Lawrence who provided his letter of introduction to the Royal Academy.
Despite their rejection of his application to study, he nevertheless exhibited at 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...
in 1831 and one of his oil paintings, 'Sir Piercie Shafton and Mysie Happer', based upon characters from Walter Scott's 'The Monastery
The Monastery
The Monastery: a Romance is a historical novel by Sir Walter Scott. Along with The Abbot, it is one of Scott's Tales from Benedictine Sources and is set in the time of Mary, Queen of Scots, and the Elizabethan period.-Plot introduction:...
', was purchased by William Cavendish, 6th Duke of Devonshire
William Cavendish, 6th Duke of Devonshire
William George Spencer Cavendish, 6th Duke of Devonshire KG, PC , styled Marquess of Hartington until 1811, was a British peer, courtier and Whig politician...
. The painting has remained in the Devonshire Collection to the present day.
Death
Liverseege's career was now beginning to take off and his work was selling well for decent prices. His health, however, rapidly declined towards the end of 1831 and by the beginning of 1832 he realised that death was near. He died at the house of his (now widowed) aunt, Grace Green, on 13 January and was buried at St Luke's Church, Rutland Street, Chorlton-on-MedlockChorlton-on-Medlock
Chorlton-on-Medlock is an inner city area of Manchester, England.Historically a part of Lancashire, the northern border of Chorlton-on-Medlock is the River Medlock which runs immediately south of Manchester city centre. Its other borders roughly correspond to Stockport Road, Hathersage Road, Moss...
.
Thirty years after his death, when St. Luke's was rebuilt, a memorial was erected by a subscription raised by the editor of the Manchester Guardian. The church was demolished in the 1960s but the memorial was saved. He was the subject of several obituaries, some of which described him as 'The English Wilkie' comparing him with David Wilkie
David Wilkie (artist)
Sir David Wilkie was a Scottish painter.- Early life :Wilkie was the son of the parish minister of Cults in Fife. He developed a love for art at an early age. In 1799, after he had attended school at Pitlessie, Kettle and Cupar, his father reluctantly agreed to his becoming a painter...
, the highly-regarded Scottish painter. All recognised that had he lived, his talent would have brought him greater recognition.
Paintings
Liverseege's output was substantial given his short career. The largest collection of his works, 37 sketches, watercolours and oils, is held by the Whitworth Art GalleryWhitworth Art Gallery
The Whitworth Art Gallery is an art gallery in Manchester, England, containing about 55,000 items in its collection. The museum is located south of the Manchester University campus, in Whitworth Park....
in Manchester. Manchester Art Gallery
Manchester Art Gallery
Manchester Art Gallery is a publicly-owned art gallery in Manchester, England. It was formerly known as Manchester City Art Gallery.The gallery was opened in 1824 and today occupies three buildings, the oldest of which - designed by Sir Charles Barry - is Grade I listed and was originally home to...
also holds several of his paintings as well as the memorial stone which was erected in (the now demolished) St. Luke's Church. Works can also be found in Tate Britain
Tate Britain
Tate Britain is an art gallery situated on Millbank in London, and part of the Tate gallery network in Britain, with Tate Modern, Tate Liverpool and Tate St Ives. It is the oldest gallery in the network, opening in 1897. It houses a substantial collection of the works of J. M. W. Turner.-History:It...
and the National Army Museum
National Army Museum
The National Army Museum is the British Army's central museum. It is located in the Chelsea district of central London, England adjacent to the Royal Hospital Chelsea, the home of the "Chelsea Pensioners". The National Army Museum is open to the public every day of the year from 10.00am to 5.30pm,...
. Shortly after his death a folio edition of engravings made from his paintings was published. This was published in a second edition in 1875.
External links
- Henry Liverseege online (Artcyclopedia)
- Henry Liverseege on Artnet
- The recruit (Oil on canvas - Nicholas Bagshawe Fine Art)
- An elegant figure seated at a table reading a book (Oil on panel - Christie'sChristie'sChristie's is an art business and a fine arts auction house.- History :The official company literature states that founder James Christie conducted the first sale in London, England, on 5 December 1766, and the earliest auction catalogue the company retains is from December 1766...
) - Portrait of Liverseege (National Portrait Gallery, London)