William Linton (artist)
Encyclopedia
William Linton was a British landscape artist.
(1714–1782). Eventually he made art his profession. Linton's later works still bear strong influence of Claude Lorrain's manner with its investigation of natural light effects, of Richard Wilson with his large-scale panoramic compositions, and particularly of Claude-Joseph Vernet (1714–1789) with his inclination to an idealised classical landscape.
By 1817 Linton settled in London and started to exhibit at the Royal Academy
and British Institution
.At that time, his subjects often presented scenery in Scotland and in the North of England, especially in the vicinity of the Lakes.
He took an active part in the founding of the Society of British Artists in 1823-1824 and was its President in 1837.
In 1828-1829, he undertook a long sketching tour through Italy, travelling from the North to the South coast. On his second, more extended tour, he travelled around the Mediterranean, visiting the South of France, Sicily, Italy, Malta and Greece. The result of these journeys was a great number of sketches.These sketches were successful on their own right, but also they formed a basis for his large-scale landscape oil paintings which firmly established his reputation as a leading landscape artist in classical style.
Linton's large-scale architectural phantasy 'Delos' (Wolverhampton Art Gallery
) was engraved by William Miller in 1831.
The contemporaries praised Linton as "the new Richard Wilson". He was compared with his contemporary J.M.W. Turner. The reviewer of the 1851 exhibition at the Royal Academy wrote about Linton's 'View of Venice':
At the same time, Linton also presented himself as a man-of-letters: in 1832, he published a book ‘Sketches in Italy: being a selection from upwards of five hundred of the most striking and picturesque scenes in various parts of Piedmont: the Milanese, Venetian, and Roman States; Tuscany; and the Kingdom of Naples; sketched during a tour in the years 1828-1829.’(London,1832). In the same year, he also published Scenery of Greece and its Islands, illustrated by fifty engravings and collaborated with celebrated children writer Mrs Barbara Hofland
(1770–1844) on the book ‘Poetical illustrations of the various scenes represented in Mr. Linton's "Sketches in Italy".
He was a talented chemist and published in 1852 the Ancient and Modern Colours, from the Earliest Periods to the Present Time, with their Chemical and Artistical Properties.
In 1831, he married Julia Adelina Swettenham (1806–1867), a niece to the Countess of Winterton. They settled down in Marylebone, London, where in the 1840s he opened a Gallery at 7, Lodge Place, London.
From the 1860s, he started to sell his works through Christie’s. Large sales of his collection were held at the Christie's in 1860, and again after his retirement in 1865. William Linton died in December 1876.
His paintings can be found at the Tate Britain
, Fitzwilliam Museum
, Wolverhampton Art Gallery
, and some other collections. The British art historian Colonel M.H. Grant said of Linton: “We know of few painters whose life’s work, if collected together into one Gallery, would make a more splendid appearance than this”.
Life and artistic work
Born in Liverpool, Linton grew up at Lancaster and Cartmel, and went to school at Windermere where later he spent holidays. At the age of sixteen he was placed in a merchant's office. He however did not like the job. For his own pleasure, he started to copy works by Claude Gellee (Lorrain, 1600–1682) and Richard WilsonRichard Wilson (painter)
Richard Wilson was a Welsh landscape painter, and one of the founder members of the Royal Academy in 1768. Wilson has been described as '...the most distinguished painter Wales has ever produced and the first to appreciate the aesthetic possibilities of his country.' He is considered to be the...
(1714–1782). Eventually he made art his profession. Linton's later works still bear strong influence of Claude Lorrain's manner with its investigation of natural light effects, of Richard Wilson with his large-scale panoramic compositions, and particularly of Claude-Joseph Vernet (1714–1789) with his inclination to an idealised classical landscape.
By 1817 Linton settled in London and started to exhibit 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 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...
.At that time, his subjects often presented scenery in Scotland and in the North of England, especially in the vicinity of the Lakes.
He took an active part in the founding of the Society of British Artists in 1823-1824 and was its President in 1837.
In 1828-1829, he undertook a long sketching tour through Italy, travelling from the North to the South coast. On his second, more extended tour, he travelled around the Mediterranean, visiting the South of France, Sicily, Italy, Malta and Greece. The result of these journeys was a great number of sketches.These sketches were successful on their own right, but also they formed a basis for his large-scale landscape oil paintings which firmly established his reputation as a leading landscape artist in classical style.
Linton's large-scale architectural phantasy 'Delos' (Wolverhampton Art Gallery
Wolverhampton Art Gallery
Wolverhampton Art Gallery is located in the City of Wolverhampton, in the West Midlands, United Kingdom. The building was funded and constructed by local contractor Philip Horsman , and built on land provided by the Council...
) was engraved by William Miller in 1831.
The contemporaries praised Linton as "the new Richard Wilson". He was compared with his contemporary J.M.W. Turner. The reviewer of the 1851 exhibition at the Royal Academy wrote about Linton's 'View of Venice':
The real aspect of Venice itself and of the Grand Canal has never been more faithfully rendered, even by Canaletti (sic!), than by Mr W.Linton. We admire the breadth, repose, and sobriety of the tone which are so favourable to architectural effect in his pictures, and Mr Linton never resorts to those artifices of light by which so many modern artists attempt to throw a strained and unnatural interest over their compositions.Linton had wealthy patrons, and his large-scale painting 'Positano, Gulf of Salerno' (Wolverhampton Art Gallery) was commissioned by the Earl of Ellesmere.
At the same time, Linton also presented himself as a man-of-letters: in 1832, he published a book ‘Sketches in Italy: being a selection from upwards of five hundred of the most striking and picturesque scenes in various parts of Piedmont: the Milanese, Venetian, and Roman States; Tuscany; and the Kingdom of Naples; sketched during a tour in the years 1828-1829.’(London,1832). In the same year, he also published Scenery of Greece and its Islands, illustrated by fifty engravings and collaborated with celebrated children writer Mrs Barbara Hofland
Barbara Hofland
Barbara Hofland was an English writer of some 66 didactic, moral stories for children, and of schoolbooks and poetry.-Life:...
(1770–1844) on the book ‘Poetical illustrations of the various scenes represented in Mr. Linton's "Sketches in Italy".
He was a talented chemist and published in 1852 the Ancient and Modern Colours, from the Earliest Periods to the Present Time, with their Chemical and Artistical Properties.
In 1831, he married Julia Adelina Swettenham (1806–1867), a niece to the Countess of Winterton. They settled down in Marylebone, London, where in the 1840s he opened a Gallery at 7, Lodge Place, London.
From the 1860s, he started to sell his works through Christie’s. Large sales of his collection were held at the Christie's in 1860, and again after his retirement in 1865. William Linton died in December 1876.
His paintings can be found at the Tate Britain
Tate Britain
Tate Britain is an art gallery situated on Millbank in London, and part of the Tate gallery network in Britain, with Tate Modern, Tate Liverpool and Tate St Ives. It is the oldest gallery in the network, opening in 1897. It houses a substantial collection of the works of J. M. W. Turner.-History:It...
, Fitzwilliam Museum
Fitzwilliam Museum
The Fitzwilliam Museum is the art and antiquities museum of the University of Cambridge, located on Trumpington Street opposite Fitzwilliam Street in central Cambridge, England. It receives around 300,000 visitors annually. Admission is free....
, Wolverhampton Art Gallery
Wolverhampton Art Gallery
Wolverhampton Art Gallery is located in the City of Wolverhampton, in the West Midlands, United Kingdom. The building was funded and constructed by local contractor Philip Horsman , and built on land provided by the Council...
, and some other collections. The British art historian Colonel M.H. Grant said of Linton: “We know of few painters whose life’s work, if collected together into one Gallery, would make a more splendid appearance than this”.
Published works
- Sketches in Italy: being a selection from upwards of five hundred of the most striking and picturesque scenes in various parts of Piedmont: the Milanese, Venetian, and Roman States; Tuscany; and the Kingdom of Naples; sketched during a tour in the years 1828-1829. 1832.
- Scenery of Greece and its Islands, illustrated by fifty engravings. 1832.
- Barbara Hofland and William Linton. Poetical illustrations of the various scenes represented in Mr. Linton's "Sketches in Italy". 1832.
- Ancient and Modern Colours, from the Earliest Periods to the Present Time, with their Chemical and Artistical Properties. 1852.
- A table of colours for oil painting, with notices of their chemical and artistical properties.London, privately printed. 1859.
- Colossal Vestiges of the Older Nations. 1862.
- Records of Several of Mr. Linton's Works, which have appeared in the London Exhibitions in the course of half a Century; with the opinions of the Public Journals. Also a Biography, with Press Notices of The Scenery of Greece, and Ancient and Modern Colours. 1872.
Literature
- Art Journal, Jan. 1858.
- Art Journal, August 1876.
- George H Shepherd. A Short History of the British School of Painting.1891.
- Colonel M.H. Grant. A Dictionary of British Landscape Painters. 1970.
- Christopher Wood. Victorian Painters.1995.
- E Benezit. Dictionnaire des Peintres, Sculpteurs, Dessinateurs et Craveurs. Tome 5.
- JGP Delaney. William Linton. Oxford DNB.
External links
- William Linton online (ARtCyclopedia)
- Photo + works of Linton (Art Renewal center)