John Ford Paterson (1851,

Dundee Dundee (; sco, Dundee; gd, Dùn Dè or ) is Scotland's fourth-largest city and the 51st-most-populous built-up area in the United Kingdom. The mid-year population estimate for 2016 was , giving Dundee a population density of 2,478/km2 or ...

– 30 June 1912,

Carlton Carlton may refer to: People * Carlton (name), a list of those with the given name or surname * Carlton (singer), English soul singer Carlton McCarthy * Carlton, a pen name used by Joseph Caldwell (1773–1835), American educator, Presbyterian ...

), often referred to as Ford or J. Ford Paterson, was a Scottish-born Australian artist. He specialised in landscapes.

Biography

John Ford Paterson Fernshaw A Bush Symphony

While still a teenager, he began his studies at the

Royal Scottish Academy The Royal Scottish Academy (RSA) is the country’s national academy of art. It promotes contemporary Scottish art. The Academy was founded in 1826 by eleven artists meeting in Edinburgh. Originally named the Scottish Academy, it became the ...

in Edinburgh and exhibited his first works shortly after turning twenty. In 1872, he followed his family to Melbourne, where he remained for three years, but returned to Scotland when he found that the local art instruction did not meet his needs for further development. Once back, he came under the influence of the Glasgow School and held numerous exhibitions, in Liverpool and Manchester as well as throughout Scotland. As his reputation grew, he was able to join the prestigious Savage Club in London. In 1884, he decided to return to Australia and, except for one short visit home, would remain there for the rest of his life. It was then that he became primarily known as a landscape painter. Paterson renewed his friendship with the Swiss-born landscape painter

Louis Buvelot Louis Buvelot ( Morges 3 March 1814 – Melbourne 30 May 1888), born Abram-Louis Buvelot, was a Swiss landscape painter who lived 17 years in Brazil and following 5 years back in Switzerland stayed 23 years in Australia, where he influenced the H ...

, a major influence on the Heidelberg School, whose '' en plein air'' methods suited Paterson. Otherwise, his

Romantic Romantic may refer to: Genres and eras * The Romantic era, an artistic, literary, musical and intellectual movement of the 18th and 19th centuries ** Romantic music, of that era ** Romantic poetry, of that era ** Romanticism in science, of that e ...

style was at odds with the more Impressionistic approach of the Heidelbergers and his exhibitions with the group were only moderately successful. His brother Charles had

Grosvenor Chambers Grosvenor Chambers, at number 9 Collins Street, Melbourne, contained the first custom-built complex of artists' studios in Australia. The construction costs were almost £6,000 and the building opened in April 1888. The owner was Charles Stewar ...

built at number 9 Collins Street, Melbourne, in which numbers of the Heidelberg painters had studios, and many artists since, but whether John F. Paterson also worked there is unknown. He joined the

Buonarotti Club The Buonarotti Club was a bohemian artists' society in Melbourne, Australia between 1883 and 1887, associated with Heidelberg School of painters. Foundation The Buonarotti Club was established in May 1883 by Cyrus Mason (c. 1829 – 18 August ...

and its ''plein air'' painting camps. Together with several other well-known artists, he broke away from the Victorian Academy of Art to help create the

Australian Art Association The Australian Art Association was founded in Melbourne, Victoria, in 1912 by Edward Officer (inaugural president) John Mather, Frederick McCubbin, Max Meldrum and Walter Withers.Judy Blyth, Mather, John (1848? - 1916), ''Australian Dictionary ...

, which eventually joined with other organizations to become the Victorian Artists Society. In 1902, Paterson became its President. In the same year he was appointed a trustee of the public library, museums and National Gallery of Victoria. During economic downturns, he would support himself by poultry farming. Although well-liked and outgoing, he never married and died, suddenly, at home. His nieces,

Esther Paterson Esther Paterson Gill (5 February 1892 8 August 1971) was an Australian artist, book-illustrator and cartoonist. Early years Paterson was born in Carlton, Victoria, the second child born to Scottish emigrants Hugh and Elizabeth Leslie (''née' ...

and

Betty Paterson Elizabeth Deans Paterson (1894 – 5 July 1970) was an Australian commercial artist, cartoonist and illustrator. She was best known for her pictures of babies and young children. Life Elizabeth Deans Paterson was born in Carlton, Victoria i ...

, were illustrators and cartoonists and his nephew,

Louis Esson Thomas Louis Buvelot Esson (10 August 1878 – 27 November 1943) was an Australian poet, journalist, critic and playwright. He was a co-founder of the Pioneer Players. His second wife, Hilda Esson (nee Bull), had a career in theatre besides work ...

, was a poet and playwright.

References

External links

More works by Paterson
@ ArtNet {{DEFAULTSORT:Paterson, John Ford 1851 births 1912 deaths Scottish artists Artists from Melbourne Artists from Dundee Australian landscape painters Scottish emigrants to colonial Australia