James Holland (artist)
Encyclopedia
James Holland was an English painter of flowers, landscapes, architecture and marine subjects, and book illustrator. He worked in both oils
and watercolours and was a member of the Royal Watercolour Society
.
, Staffordshire
, where his father and other members of his family were employed at the pottery
works of William Davenport
in Longport
. James was himself employed there, from the age of 12, for 7 years, painting flowers on pottery and porcelain
. In 1819, he came to London
where he continued to work as a pottery painter, but also gave lessons in drawing landscapes, architecture, and marine subjects.
He first exhibited at the Royal Academy
in 1824 and in 1830 visited France
and made studies of its architecture. In 1823 he exhibited a picture of 'London from Blackheath'. In l835 he became an associate exhibitor of The Society of Painters in Water-colours
, but he left the society in 1843, and joined the Society of British Artists, of which he remained a member until 1848. He rejoined the Watercolour Society in 1856, and was elected a full member two years later.
Holland did a great deal of drawing for the illustrated annuals
of the day, and for this purpose visited Venice
, Milan
, Geneva
, and Paris
in 1836, and Portugal
in 1837. His paintings of Portugal were published in the book, "The Tourist in Portugal". In 1839 he exhibited a painting of Lisbon
at the Royal Academy. In 1845 he went to Rotterdam
, Portugal again in 1847, in 1850 to Normandy
and North Wales
, in 1851 again to Geneva, and in 1857 again to Venice.
In the course of his life he exhibited, in addition to his contributions to the Watercolour Society, 32 pictures at the Royal Academy, 91 at the British Institution
, and 108 at the Society of British Artists. Though generally classed as a water-colour painter, he was equally skilful in oils. He was one of the finest colourists of the English school, and his pictures, especially those of Venice, though neglected in his lifetime, became much sought after in the years after his death. He appears to have ceased to exhibit in 1857.
One of Holland's pupils was topographical artist Frank Dillon (1823-1909) known especially for his paintings of Egypt.
Oil painting
Oil painting is the process of painting with pigments that are bound with a medium of drying oil—especially in early modern Europe, linseed oil. Often an oil such as linseed was boiled with a resin such as pine resin or even frankincense; these were called 'varnishes' and were prized for their body...
and watercolours and was a member of the Royal Watercolour Society
Royal Watercolour Society
The Royal Watercolour Society is an English institution of painters working in watercolours...
.
Life and work
Holland was born in BurslemBurslem
The town of Burslem, known as the Mother Town, is one of the six towns that amalgamated to form the current city of Stoke-on-Trent, in the ceremonial county of Staffordshire, in the Midlands of England.-Topography:...
, Staffordshire
Staffordshire
Staffordshire is a landlocked county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. Part of the National Forest lies within its borders...
, where his father and other members of his family were employed at the pottery
Pottery
Pottery is the material from which the potteryware is made, of which major types include earthenware, stoneware and porcelain. The place where such wares are made is also called a pottery . Pottery also refers to the art or craft of the potter or the manufacture of pottery...
works of William Davenport
Davenport Pottery
Davenport Pottery was an English earthenware and porcelain manufacturer based in Longport, Staffordshire,.-History:In 1785, John Davenport , began as a potter working with Thomas Wolfe of Stoke. In 1794, he acquired his own pottery at Longport and began producing cream-coloured blue-printed...
in Longport
Longport
Longport can refer to:*Longport, New Jersey in the United States of America*Longport, Staffordshire in Stoke-on-Trent, England*Longphort, a term used in Ireland for a Viking ship enclosure...
. James was himself employed there, from the age of 12, for 7 years, painting flowers on pottery and porcelain
Porcelain
Porcelain is a ceramic material made by heating raw materials, generally including clay in the form of kaolin, in a kiln to temperatures between and...
. In 1819, he came 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 continued to work as a pottery painter, but also gave lessons in drawing landscapes, architecture, and marine subjects.
He first 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 1824 and in 1830 visited France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and made studies of its architecture. In 1823 he exhibited a picture of 'London from Blackheath'. In l835 he became an associate exhibitor of The Society of Painters in Water-colours
Royal Watercolour Society
The Royal Watercolour Society is an English institution of painters working in watercolours...
, but he left the society in 1843, and joined the Society of British Artists, of which he remained a member until 1848. He rejoined the Watercolour Society in 1856, and was elected a full member two years later.
Holland did a great deal of drawing for the illustrated annuals
Annual publication
An annual publication, more often called simply an annual, is a book or a magazine, comic book or comic strip published yearly. For example, a weekly or monthly publication may produce an Annual featuring similar materials to the regular publication....
of the day, and for this purpose visited 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...
, Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
, Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
, and Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
in 1836, and Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
in 1837. His paintings of Portugal were published in the book, "The Tourist in Portugal". In 1839 he exhibited a painting of Lisbon
Lisbon
Lisbon is the capital city and largest city of Portugal with a population of 545,245 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Lisbon extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of 3 million on an area of , making it the 9th most populous urban...
at the Royal Academy. In 1845 he went to Rotterdam
Rotterdam
Rotterdam is the second-largest city in the Netherlands and one of the largest ports in the world. Starting as a dam on the Rotte river, Rotterdam has grown into a major international commercial centre...
, Portugal again in 1847, in 1850 to Normandy
Normandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
and North Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
, in 1851 again to Geneva, and in 1857 again to Venice.
In the course of his life he exhibited, in addition to his contributions to the Watercolour Society, 32 pictures at the Royal Academy, 91 at the British Institution
British Institution
The British Institution was a private 19th-century society in London formed to exhibit the works of living and dead artists; it was also known as the Pall Mall Picture Galleries or the British Gallery...
, and 108 at the Society of British Artists. Though generally classed as a water-colour painter, he was equally skilful in oils. He was one of the finest colourists of the English school, and his pictures, especially those of Venice, though neglected in his lifetime, became much sought after in the years after his death. He appears to have ceased to exhibit in 1857.
One of Holland's pupils was topographical artist Frank Dillon (1823-1909) known especially for his paintings of Egypt.
Further reading
- Roget, John Lewis. A history of the 'Old water-colour' society (London, New York: Longmans, Green and co., 1891) pp. 249-51.
- Steve Bond. James Holland: The Forgotten Artist (Churnet Valley Books, 1999).
External links
- James Holland online (ArtCyclopedia)
- Artist of the month, June 2006 (Lady Lever Art GalleryLady Lever Art GalleryThe Lady Lever Art Gallery was founded in 1922 by Sunlight Soap magnate, William Lever, 1st Viscount Leverhulme, and dedicated to the memory of his wife....
, Liverpool) - Paintings by James Holland (Bridgeman Art Library]
- Watercolours by Holland (Guy Peppiatt Fine Art)
- Moorish castle, Mafra (1837 watercolour - V&A)
- Canal at Venice (Watercolour - V&A)
- The coast at Sanpierdarena, near Genoa (1851 watercolour - 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...
)