John Wright Oakes
Encyclopedia
John Wright Oakes was an English landscape painter.
He was born at Sproston House, near Middlewich
, Cheshire
, which had been in the possession of his family for several generations. He was educated in Liverpool
, and studied art under John Bishop in the school
attached to the Liverpool Mechanics' Institution. His earliest works were fruit-pieces. These he exhibited in 1839 and the following years at the Liverpool Academy
, of which he became a member, and afterwards honorary secretary for several years.
About 1843 Oakes began painting landscapes from nature
, and in 1847 the first picture exhibited by him in London, 'Nant Frangcon, Carnarvonshire,' appeared at the British Institution
, and was followed in 1848 by 'On the River Greta, Keswick,' at the Royal Academy
. He continued to send pictures, chiefly of Welsh
mountain, moorland, and coast scenery, to these exhibitions, as well as to the Society of British Artists, Dudley Gallery, Portland Gallery
, and elsewhere, and in 1859 came to reside in London
.
He painted also in water-colours, and in 1874 was elected an associate of the Institute of Painters in Water-Colours, but resigned this position in 1875. He was elected an associate of the Royal Academy
in 1876, and an honorary member of the Royal Scottish Academy
in 1883. During the last six years of his life ill-health greatly interfered with the practice of his art. He still, however, exhibited annually at the Royal Academy, where a picture entitled 'The Warren' appeared the year after his death. Among his best works were 'A Carnarvonshire Glen,' 'A Solitary Pool,' 'Glen Derry,' 'Malldraeth Sands,' 'Aberffraw Bay,' 'Marchlyn Mawr,' 'Linn of Muick,' 'Dunnottar Castle,' 'The Bass Rock,' 'The Fallow Field,' 'The Border Countrie,' 'The Dee Sands,' and 'Dirty Weather on the East Coast.'
Oakes died at his residence, Leam House, Addison Road, Kensington
, and was buried in Brompton Cemetery
.
As of 1894, the South Kensington Museum had an oil painting by him entitled 'Disturbed,' an effect of early spring twilight. 'A North Devon Glen' was in the Walker Art Gallery
, Liverpool
, and 'Early Spring' in the Glasgow Corporation galleries
.
He was born at Sproston House, near Middlewich
Middlewich
Middlewich is a market town in the unitary authority of Cheshire East and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. It is east of the city of Chester, east of Winsford, southeast of Northwich and northwest of Sandbach....
, Cheshire
Cheshire
Cheshire is a ceremonial county in North West England. Cheshire's county town is the city of Chester, although its largest town is Warrington. Other major towns include Widnes, Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Winsford, Northwich, and Wilmslow...
, which had been in the possession of his family for several generations. He was educated in Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
, and studied art under John Bishop in the school
School
A school is an institution designed for the teaching of students under the direction of teachers. Most countries have systems of formal education, which is commonly compulsory. In these systems, students progress through a series of schools...
attached to the Liverpool Mechanics' Institution. His earliest works were fruit-pieces. These he exhibited in 1839 and the following years at the Liverpool Academy
Liverpool Academy of Arts
The Liverpool Academy of Arts was founded in April 1810 as a regional equivalent of the Royal Academy, London. Two local art collectors, Henry Blundell and William Roscoe were its first Patron and Secretary, the Prince Regent gave his patronage for the next three years, and it was actively...
, of which he became a member, and afterwards honorary secretary for several years.
About 1843 Oakes began painting landscapes from nature
Nature
Nature, in the broadest sense, is equivalent to the natural world, physical world, or material world. "Nature" refers to the phenomena of the physical world, and also to life in general...
, and in 1847 the first picture exhibited by him in London, 'Nant Frangcon, Carnarvonshire,' appeared 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 was followed in 1848 by 'On the River Greta, Keswick,' 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...
. He continued to send pictures, chiefly of Welsh
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...
mountain, moorland, and coast scenery, to these exhibitions, as well as to the Society of British Artists, Dudley Gallery, Portland Gallery
Portland Gallery
The Portland Gallery is an art gallery in Westminster, London, located near Piccadilly Circus. It was established in 1984 by the Honourable Thomas Hewlett, son of the Conservative Member of Parliament Thomas Henry Hewlett....
, and elsewhere, and in 1859 came to reside in 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...
.
He painted also in water-colours, and in 1874 was elected an associate of the Institute of Painters in Water-Colours, but resigned this position in 1875. He was elected an associate of 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 1876, and an honorary member of the Royal Scottish Academy
Royal Scottish Academy
The Royal Scottish Academy is a Scottish organisation that promotes contemporary Scottish art. Founded in 1826, as the Royal Institution for the Encouragement of the Fine Arts, the RSA maintains a unique position in Scotland as an independently funded institution led by eminent artists and...
in 1883. During the last six years of his life ill-health greatly interfered with the practice of his art. He still, however, exhibited annually at the Royal Academy, where a picture entitled 'The Warren' appeared the year after his death. Among his best works were 'A Carnarvonshire Glen,' 'A Solitary Pool,' 'Glen Derry,' 'Malldraeth Sands,' 'Aberffraw Bay,' 'Marchlyn Mawr,' 'Linn of Muick,' 'Dunnottar Castle,' 'The Bass Rock,' 'The Fallow Field,' 'The Border Countrie,' 'The Dee Sands,' and 'Dirty Weather on the East Coast.'
Oakes died at his residence, Leam House, Addison Road, Kensington
Kensington
Kensington is a district of west and central London, England within the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. An affluent and densely-populated area, its commercial heart is Kensington High Street, and it contains the well-known museum district of South Kensington.To the north, Kensington is...
, and was buried in Brompton Cemetery
Brompton Cemetery
Brompton Cemetery is located near Earl's Court in South West London, England . It is managed by The Royal Parks and is one of the Magnificent Seven...
.
As of 1894, the South Kensington Museum had an oil painting by him entitled 'Disturbed,' an effect of early spring twilight. 'A North Devon Glen' was in the Walker Art Gallery
Walker Art Gallery
The Walker Art Gallery is an art gallery in Liverpool, which houses one of the largest art collections in England, outside of London. It is part of the National Museums Liverpool group, and is promoted as "the National Gallery of the North" because it is not a local or regional gallery but is part...
, Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
, and 'Early Spring' in the Glasgow Corporation galleries
McLellan Galleries
The McLellan Galleries are an exhibition space in the city of Glasgow, Scotland. Built in 1856, the Galleries are named after their founder, Archibald McLellan , a coach builder, councillor and patron of the arts...
.
Sources
- Lee Sidney. Dictionary of national biography, volume 41 (1895) p289.
- Times, 13 July 1887; Athenæum, 1887, ii. 89; Bryan's Dict. of Painters and Engravers, ed. Graves and Armstrong, 1886–9, ii. 768; Exhibition Catalogues of the Royal Academy, British Institution (Living Artists), Society of British Artists, and Liverpool Academy, 1839–1888.
External links
- The Rabbit Warren (c. 1858, Oil on canvas - "Leicester Galleries")
- The Royal Barge embarking from Westminster (1849, watercolour - "Art in Parliament")
- Portrait photo of Oakes (Royal Academy Collections, London)