John Cart Burgess
Encyclopedia
John Cart Burgess was an English watercolour painter
of flowers
and landscapes, and an author of two books on art technique. He was part of the well-known Burgess dynasty of painters who flourished in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Burgess was the son of portrait-painter, William Burgess
(1749–1812), and the grandson of Thomas Burgess
(fl.
1766-1786). His brothers were the painters Henry William Burgess (fl. 1809-1844) and Thomas Burgess
(1784?-1807). John started off as a painter of flowers and fruit in watercolours, first exhibiting three flower pieces at the Royal Academy
, London
in 1812; he was then residing at 46 Sloane Square
in Chelsea
. He also exhibited at the Suffolk Street Gallery and the British Institution
. His works were much admired, and in brilliancy and beauty of execution were said to rival those of Van Huysum
.
At the age of 27, he married Charlotte Smith (daughter of Anker Smith, a well-known engraver), a talented sculptress and silver medal winner at the Royal Academy. The requirements of a growing family eventually compelled him to relinquish painting for the more lucrative occupation of teaching - for many years he held a prominent position as a drawing master. Among his pupils he numbered several members of the royal family. In 1811 he published a book on flower-painting and a treatise on perspective which went to several editions.
Burgess died in Leamington at the residence of his son, John Burgess (1813–1874), also a painter of note, on 20 February 1863.
Watercolor painting
Watercolor or watercolour , also aquarelle from French, is a painting method. A watercolor is the medium or the resulting artwork in which the paints are made of pigments suspended in a water-soluble vehicle...
of flowers
Still life
A still life is a work of art depicting mostly inanimate subject matter, typically commonplace objects which may be either natural or man-made...
and landscapes, and an author of two books on art technique. He was part of the well-known Burgess dynasty of painters who flourished in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Burgess was the son of portrait-painter, William Burgess
William Burgess (painter)
William Burgess, a son of Thomas Burgess , and also a teacher of art, exhibited portraits and conversation pieces at the Free Society of Artists and the Royal Academy from 1769 till 1799. He died in London in 1812, aged 63. His son, H. W. Burgess, was landscape painter to William IV.-References:...
(1749–1812), and the grandson of Thomas Burgess
Thomas Burgess (painter floruit 1786)
Thomas Burgess, who learned his art in the St. Martin's Lane Academy, sent pictures to the exhibitions of the Incorporated Society, of which he was a member, and to the Royal Academy. His works date from 1766 till 1786; they are conversation pieces, historic works, portraits, and landscapes. He...
(fl.
Floruit
Floruit , abbreviated fl. , is a Latin verb meaning "flourished", denoting the period of time during which something was active...
1766-1786). His brothers were the painters Henry William Burgess (fl. 1809-1844) and Thomas Burgess
Thomas Burgess (painter died 1807)
Thomas Burgess, a landscape painter, exhibited at the Royal Academy from 1802 till 1806. He died, in the following year, in London, at the early age of twenty-three.-References:...
(1784?-1807). John started off as a painter of flowers and fruit in watercolours, first exhibiting three flower pieces 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...
, 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...
in 1812; he was then residing at 46 Sloane Square
Sloane Square
Sloane Square is a small hard-landscaped square on the boundaries of the fashionable London districts of Knightsbridge, Belgravia and Chelsea, located southwest of Charing Cross, in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. The square is part of the Hans Town area designed in 1771 by Henry...
in Chelsea
Chelsea, London
Chelsea is an area of West London, England, bounded to the south by the River Thames, where its frontage runs from Chelsea Bridge along the Chelsea Embankment, Cheyne Walk, Lots Road and Chelsea Harbour. Its eastern boundary was once defined by the River Westbourne, which is now in a pipe above...
. He also exhibited at the Suffolk Street Gallery and 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...
. His works were much admired, and in brilliancy and beauty of execution were said to rival those of Van Huysum
Justus van Huysum
Justus van Huysum, also spelled Huijsum, was a Dutch Golden Age painter.-Biography:He was the son of the decorative painter Jan van Huysum I and the brother of the engraver Caspar van Huysum...
.
At the age of 27, he married Charlotte Smith (daughter of Anker Smith, a well-known engraver), a talented sculptress and silver medal winner at the Royal Academy. The requirements of a growing family eventually compelled him to relinquish painting for the more lucrative occupation of teaching - for many years he held a prominent position as a drawing master. Among his pupils he numbered several members of the royal family. In 1811 he published a book on flower-painting and a treatise on perspective which went to several editions.
Burgess died in Leamington at the residence of his son, John Burgess (1813–1874), also a painter of note, on 20 February 1863.