Thomas Leeson Scrase Rowbotham
Encyclopedia
Thomas Leeson Scarse Rowbotham (sometimes called Thomas Leeson Rowbotham the Elder or Thomas Leeson Rowbotham Senior) (1782–1853) was an English watercolourist and oil painter
. He was a skilled painter of landscapes
and marine subjects
, became professor of drawing at the Royal Naval School
and produced books on painting and drawing. He contributed 258 watercolours of scenes from Bristol
, England to the topographical collection of George Weare Braikenridge
. The Braikenridge Collection makes Bristol's early 19th century appearance one of the best documented of any English city.
Rowbotham was born in Bath, Somerset in 1782, where he became a teacher of marine painting, cottage figures and landscape. His father had become owner of the Theatre Royal, Bath
. Thomas moved to Dublin around 1812, where his son Thomas Charles Leeson Rowbotham
(1823–75) was born.
By 1825, when he started working for Braikenridge, he had moved to Bristol. Besides the 258 watercolours, he also produced around 100 drawings for Braikenridge depicting views of Brislington
, Bristol. In 1832 he also produced some large panoramas of Bristol. In 1832 and 1833 he collaborated with William James Müller
to produce engravings of the Bristol Riots
of 1831.
Rowbotham does not seem to have participated in the activities of the Bristol School
of artists. However in late 1832 or early 1833 Rowbotham was a founder member of the formal sketching club for evening sketching meetings, which was the successor of the more informal Bristol School.
Later he became professor of drawing at the Royal Naval School
, New Cross
, London. He wrote The Art of Landscape Painting in Watercolours, jointly with his son, and The Art of Sketching from Nature, for which his son provided the illustrations.
He died in 1853 at Camberwell
, London. His professorship at the Royal Naval School was taken over by his son.
The Braikenridge Collection is in the Bristol City Museum and Art Gallery
.
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...
. He was a skilled painter of landscapes
Landscape art
Landscape art is a term that covers the depiction of natural scenery such as mountains, valleys, trees, rivers, and forests, and especially art where the main subject is a wide view, with its elements arranged into a coherent composition. In other works landscape backgrounds for figures can still...
and marine subjects
Marine art
Marine art or maritime art is any form of figurative art that portrays or draws its main inspiration from the sea. Maritime painting is a genre that depicts ships and the sea—a genre particularly strong from the 17th to 19th centuries...
, became professor of drawing at the Royal Naval School
Royal Naval School
The Royal Naval School was an English school that was established in Camberwell, London, in 1833 and then formally constituted by the Royal Naval College Act 1840. It was a charitable institution, established as a boarding school for the sons of officers in the Royal Navy and Royal Marines. Many of...
and produced books on painting and drawing. He contributed 258 watercolours of scenes from Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
, England to the topographical collection of George Weare Braikenridge
George Weare Braikenridge
-External links:* * * *...
. The Braikenridge Collection makes Bristol's early 19th century appearance one of the best documented of any English city.
Rowbotham was born in Bath, Somerset in 1782, where he became a teacher of marine painting, cottage figures and landscape. His father had become owner of the Theatre Royal, Bath
Theatre Royal, Bath
The Theatre Royal in Bath, England, is over 200 years old. It is one of the more important theatres in the United Kingdom outside London, with capacity for an audience of around 900....
. Thomas moved to Dublin around 1812, where his son Thomas Charles Leeson Rowbotham
Thomas Charles Leeson Rowbotham
Thomas Charles Leeson Rowbotham , Irish watercolour landscape and marine artist and lithographer, was the son of the watercolour artist, Thomas Leeson Scrase Rowbotham . He was trained by his father and first did serious work in 1847 on a sketching trip to Wales...
(1823–75) was born.
By 1825, when he started working for Braikenridge, he had moved to Bristol. Besides the 258 watercolours, he also produced around 100 drawings for Braikenridge depicting views of Brislington
Brislington
Brislington is an area in the south east of the city of Bristol, England. It is on the edge of Bristol and from Bath. The Brislington Brook runs through the area in the woodlands of Nightingale Valley...
, Bristol. In 1832 he also produced some large panoramas of Bristol. In 1832 and 1833 he collaborated with William James Müller
William James Müller
William James Müller , English landscape and figure painter, the best-known artist of the Bristol School.-Biography:...
to produce engravings of the Bristol Riots
Bristol Riots
The Bristol riots refer to a number of significant riots in the city of Bristol in England.- Bristol Bridge riot, 1793 :The Bristol Bridge Riot of 30 September 1793 began as a protest at renewal of an act levying of tolls on Bristol Bridge, which included the proposal to demolish several houses...
of 1831.
Rowbotham does not seem to have participated in the activities of the Bristol School
Bristol School
The Bristol School is a term applied retrospectively to describe the informal association and works of a group of artists working in Bristol, England, in the early 19th century. It was mainly active in the 1820s, although the origins and influences of the school have been traced over the...
of artists. However in late 1832 or early 1833 Rowbotham was a founder member of the formal sketching club for evening sketching meetings, which was the successor of the more informal Bristol School.
Later he became professor of drawing at the Royal Naval School
Royal Naval School
The Royal Naval School was an English school that was established in Camberwell, London, in 1833 and then formally constituted by the Royal Naval College Act 1840. It was a charitable institution, established as a boarding school for the sons of officers in the Royal Navy and Royal Marines. Many of...
, New Cross
New Cross
New Cross is a district and ward of the London Borough of Lewisham, England. It is situated 4 miles south-east of Charing Cross. The ward covered by London post town and the SE 14 postcode district. New Cross is near St Johns, Telegraph Hill, Nunhead, Peckham, Brockley, Deptford and Greenwich...
, London. He wrote The Art of Landscape Painting in Watercolours, jointly with his son, and The Art of Sketching from Nature, for which his son provided the illustrations.
He died in 1853 at Camberwell
Camberwell
Camberwell is a district of south London, England, and forms part of the London Borough of Southwark. It is a built-up inner city district located southeast of Charing Cross. To the west it has a boundary with the London Borough of Lambeth.-Toponymy:...
, London. His professorship at the Royal Naval School was taken over by his son.
The Braikenridge Collection is in the Bristol City Museum and Art Gallery
Bristol City Museum and Art Gallery
The Bristol City Museum and Art Gallery is a large museum and art gallery in Bristol, England. It is run by the city council with no entrance fee. It holds designated museum status, granted by the national government to protect outstanding museums...
.