Sketch of John Sheriff by Sir Daniel Macnee

John Sheriff ARSA (1816–1844) was a 19th century Scottish artist, specialising in animals.

Life

He was born in Mearnskirk south of

Glasgow Glasgow ( ; sco, Glesca or ; gd, Glaschu ) is the most populous city in Scotland and the fourth-most populous city in the United Kingdom, as well as being the 27th largest city by population in Europe. In 2020, it had an estimated popul ...

in 1816. He went to Glasgow as an apprentice copper-plate printer in 1830, working for James Lumsden & Son, wholesale stationers at 20 Queen Street. Around 1832, James Lumsden employed

Horatio McCulloch Horatio McCulloch (November 1805 – 24 June 1867), sometimes written MacCulloch or M'Culloch, was a Scottish landscape painter. Life He was born in Glasgow in November 1805 the son of Alexander McCulloch, a cotton merchant, and his wife, Ma ...

to paint murals in his hallway at St Georges Place and Sheriff was asked to assist McCulloch. During this task. they became friends and Sheriff determined to be an artist. He moved to

Edinburgh Edinburgh ( ; gd, Dùn Èideann ) is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 Council areas of Scotland, council areas. Historically part of the county of Midlothian (interchangeably Edinburghshire before 1921), it is located in Lothian ...

and quickly joined the circle of Edinburgh artists, being made an associate of 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 ...

(one of their youngest members ever). He was living at 44 Howe Street in 1839, and by 1842 had a studio at 26 Frederick Street in Edinburgh's First New Town, just off

Princes Street Princes Street ( gd, Sràid nam Prionnsan) is one of the major thoroughfares in central Edinburgh, Scotland and the main shopping street in the capital. It is the southernmost street of Edinburgh's New Town, stretching around 1.2 km (three ...

. He showed much success but died in

on 9 December 1844 aged 28, and is buried in

Warriston Cemetery Warriston Cemetery is a cemetery in Edinburgh. It lies in Warriston, one of the northern suburbs of Edinburgh, Scotland. It was built by the then newly-formed Edinburgh Cemetery Company, and occupies around of land on a slightly sloping si ...

just east of the lower side of the central vaults. He was one of the first burials in the cemetery, which had only opened in the previous year. His older brother William Sheriff (1814-1893) is buried with him. He was portrayed twice by Sir

Daniel Macnee Sir Daniel Macnee FRSE PRSA LLD (4 June 1806, Fintry, Stirlingshire – 17 January 1882, Edinburgh), was a Scottish portrait painter who served as president of the Royal Scottish Academy (1876). Life He was born at Fintry in Stirlingshir ...

President of the

: in a pencil sketch of around 1842; and an earlier oil painting showing John looking very young.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sheriff, John 1816 births 1844 deaths People from Renfrewshire Scottish artists