John Trivett Nettleship
Encyclopedia
John Trivett Nettleship was an English
artist, known as a painter of animals and in particular lion
s, and author.
, Northamptonshire
on 11 February 1841, the second son of Henry John Nettleship, a solicitor there, and brother of Henry Nettleship
, Richard Lewis Nettleship
, and of Edward Nettleship
, the ophthalmic surgeon. His mother was Isabella Ann, daughter of James Hogg, vicar of Geddington
and Master of Kettering Grammar School
.
Nettleship was for some time a chorister at New College, Oxford
. Afterwards he was sent to the cathedral school at Durham
, where his brother Henry had preceded him. Having won the English verse prize on ‘Venice’ in 1856, he was taken away comparatively young, in order to enter his father's office. There he remained for two or three years, finishing his articles in London. Admitted a solicitor and in practice for a brief period, he decided to devote himself to art, and entered himself as a student at Heatherley's and at the Slade School in London, but was largely self-taught.
For twenty-seven years (1874–1901) he exhibited spacious oil pictures of lions, tigers, etc., at the Royal Academy
and for most of the period at the Grosvenor Gallery
. In 1880 Nettleship was invited to India by the Gaekwar of Baroda, for whom he painted a cheetah hunt as well as an equestrian portrait. In his later years he took to the medium of pastel
, and, painting his old subjects on a smaller scale, enjoyed greater popularity.
Nettleship was far more than a painter. His intellectual sympathies were unusually wide. In 1868, when only twenty-seven, he published a volume of ‘Essays on Robert Browning's Poetry,’ which was probably the first serious study of the poet, and has passed through three editions with considerable enlargements, of which the latest is entitled ‘Robert Browning: Essays and Thoughts’ (1895). The book brought about an intimate friendship between the poet and his critic. Another book that shows both his mature power of literary expression and his opinions about his own art is Here there are touches of self-portraiture.
He was one of The Brotherhood, a group of the 1870s including John Butler Yeats
and Edwin John Ellis. They were admirers of William Blake
, on friendly terms with the Pre-Raphaelites or at least the Rossetti brothers, and part of the Bedford Park
social and artistic group.
Nettleship died in London on 31 August 1902, and was buried at Kensal Green Cemetery
. A memorial tablet in bronze, designed by Sir George Frampton, with the aid of two locally-born artists, Sir Alfred East and Thomas Cooper Gotch, was placed in the parish church at Kettering.
, whose mid-century reputation was in the doldrums. This brought him Browning's friendship. He was prominent as a founder of the Browning Society
. He wrote also a biography of the artist George Morland
, George Morland and the Evolution from him of some Later Painters' (1898).
.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
artist, known as a painter of animals and in particular lion
Lion
The lion is one of the four big cats in the genus Panthera, and a member of the family Felidae. With some males exceeding 250 kg in weight, it is the second-largest living cat after the tiger...
s, and author.
Life
He was born in KetteringKettering
Kettering is a market town in the Borough of Kettering, Northamptonshire, England. It is situated about from London. Kettering is mainly situated on the west side of the River Ise, a tributary of the River Nene which meets at Wellingborough...
, Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire is a landlocked county in the English East Midlands, with a population of 629,676 as at the 2001 census. It has boundaries with the ceremonial counties of Warwickshire to the west, Leicestershire and Rutland to the north, Cambridgeshire to the east, Bedfordshire to the south-east,...
on 11 February 1841, the second son of Henry John Nettleship, a solicitor there, and brother of Henry Nettleship
Henry Nettleship
Henry Nettleship was an English classical scholar.Nettleship was born at Kettering, and was educated at Lancing College, Durham School and Charterhouse schools, and Corpus Christi College, Oxford. In 1861, he was elected to a fellowship at Lincoln, which he vacated on his marriage in 1870...
, Richard Lewis Nettleship
Richard Lewis Nettleship
Richard Lewis Nettleship , English philosopher, youngest brother of Henry Nettleship, was educated at Uppingham and Balliol College, Oxford, where he held a scholarship....
, and of Edward Nettleship
Edward Nettleship
Edward Nettleship was an English ophthalmologist.He was a native of Kettering. After finishing his medical studies, Nettleship became an assistant to Jonathan Hutchinson at the London Hospital, and a coworker with Warren Tay at the Moorfields Eye Hospital. Afterwards he spent nearly twenty years...
, the ophthalmic surgeon. His mother was Isabella Ann, daughter of James Hogg, vicar of Geddington
Geddington
Geddington is a village and civil parish on the A43 in north-east Northamptonshire between Kettering and Corby.It contains what is thought to be the best surviving Eleanor cross. The monument dates from 1294, when the crosses were raised as a memorial by Edward I to his late wife, Eleanor of...
and Master of Kettering Grammar School
Kettering Grammar School
Kettering Grammar School was a boys grammar school that had a number of homes in Kettering, Northamptonshire throughout its history.-History:...
.
Nettleship was for some time a chorister at New College, Oxford
New College, Oxford
New College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom.- Overview :The College's official name, College of St Mary, is the same as that of the older Oriel College; hence, it has been referred to as the "New College of St Mary", and is now almost always...
. Afterwards he was sent to the cathedral school at Durham
Durham
Durham is a city in north east England. It is within the County Durham local government district, and is the county town of the larger ceremonial county...
, where his brother Henry had preceded him. Having won the English verse prize on ‘Venice’ in 1856, he was taken away comparatively young, in order to enter his father's office. There he remained for two or three years, finishing his articles in London. Admitted a solicitor and in practice for a brief period, he decided to devote himself to art, and entered himself as a student at Heatherley's and at the Slade School in London, but was largely self-taught.
For twenty-seven years (1874–1901) he exhibited spacious oil pictures of lions, tigers, etc., 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...
and for most of the period at 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 1880 Nettleship was invited to India by the Gaekwar of Baroda, for whom he painted a cheetah hunt as well as an equestrian portrait. In his later years he took to the medium of pastel
Pastel
Pastel is an art medium in the form of a stick, consisting of pure powdered pigment and a binder. The pigments used in pastels are the same as those used to produce all colored art media, including oil paints; the binder is of a neutral hue and low saturation....
, and, painting his old subjects on a smaller scale, enjoyed greater popularity.
Nettleship was far more than a painter. His intellectual sympathies were unusually wide. In 1868, when only twenty-seven, he published a volume of ‘Essays on Robert Browning's Poetry,’ which was probably the first serious study of the poet, and has passed through three editions with considerable enlargements, of which the latest is entitled ‘Robert Browning: Essays and Thoughts’ (1895). The book brought about an intimate friendship between the poet and his critic. Another book that shows both his mature power of literary expression and his opinions about his own art is Here there are touches of self-portraiture.
He was one of The Brotherhood, a group of the 1870s including John Butler Yeats
John Butler Yeats
John Butler Yeats was an Irish artist and the father of William Butler Yeats, Lily Yeats, Lollie Yeats and Jack B. Yeats. He is probably best known for his portrait of the young William Butler Yeats which is one of a number of his portraits of Irishmen and women in the Yeats museum in the National...
and Edwin John Ellis. They were admirers of William Blake
William Blake
William Blake was an English poet, painter, and printmaker. Largely unrecognised during his lifetime, Blake is now considered a seminal figure in the history of both the poetry and visual arts of the Romantic Age...
, on friendly terms with the Pre-Raphaelites or at least the Rossetti brothers, and part of the Bedford Park
Bedford Park, London
Bedford Park is a suburban development in west London, England. It forms a conservation area that is mostly within the London Borough of Ealing, with a small part to the east within the London Borough of Hounslow. The nearest underground station is Turnham Green .-History:It can be justly described...
social and artistic group.
Nettleship died in London on 31 August 1902, and was buried at Kensal Green Cemetery
Kensal Green Cemetery
Kensal Green Cemetery is a cemetery in Kensal Green, in the west of London, England. It was immortalised in the lines of G. K. Chesterton's poem The Rolling English Road from his book The Flying Inn: "For there is good news yet to hear and fine things to be seen; Before we go to Paradise by way of...
. A memorial tablet in bronze, designed by Sir George Frampton, with the aid of two locally-born artists, Sir Alfred East and Thomas Cooper Gotch, was placed in the parish church at Kettering.
Writing
He wrote in Essays on Robert Browning's poetry (1868) the first major work of criticism on BrowningRobert 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:...
, whose mid-century reputation was in the doldrums. This brought him Browning's friendship. He was prominent as a founder of the Browning Society
Browning Society
Browning societies were groups of people who met regularly to discuss the works of Robert Browning. Emerging from various reading groups, the societies were an indication of the poet's fame and, unusually, were actively forming during his lifetime...
. He wrote also a biography of the artist George Morland
George Morland
George Morland was an English painter of animals and rustic scenes.-Life:Morland was born in London, the 3rd son of Henry Robert Morland , artist, engraver and picture restorer...
, George Morland and the Evolution from him of some Later Painters' (1898).
Family
He married in 1876 Ada, daughter of James Hinton; she survived him with three daughters, the eldest of whom was Ida (1877-1907) who married the artist Augustus JohnAugustus John
Augustus Edwin John OM, RA, was a Welsh painter, draughtsman, and etcher. For a short time around 1910, he was an important exponent of Post-Impressionism in the United Kingdom....
.
Books
- Essays on Robert Browning's poetry (London Macmillan, 1868).
- George Morland: and the evolution from him of some later painters (London: Seeley, 1898).