John William Wright (1802 – 14 January 1848) was an English

genre Genre () is any form or type of communication in any mode (written, spoken, digital, artistic, etc.) with socially-agreed-upon conventions developed over time. In popular usage, it normally describes a category of literature, music, or other for ...

and

portrait A portrait is a portrait painting, painting, portrait photography, photograph, sculpture, or other artistic representation of a person, in which the face and its expressions are predominant. The intent is to display the likeness, Personality type ...

watercolour Watercolor (American English) or watercolour (British English; see spelling differences), also ''aquarelle'' (; from Italian diminutive of Latin ''aqua'' "water"), is a painting method”Watercolor may be as old as art itself, going back to t ...

painter and

illustrator An illustrator is an artist who specializes in enhancing writing or elucidating concepts by providing a visual representation that corresponds to the content of the associated text or idea. The illustration may be intended to clarify complicat ...

Life and work

Wright was born in London in 1802, the son of John Wright (d. 1820), a

miniature painter A portrait miniature is a miniature portrait painting, usually executed in gouache, watercolor, or enamel. Portrait miniatures developed out of the techniques of the miniatures in illuminated manuscripts, and were popular among 16th-century eli ...

of repute, acquainted with leading artists of the day such as

John Hoppner John Hoppner (4 April 175823 January 1810) was an English portrait painter, much influenced by Reynolds, who achieved fame as a brilliant colourist. Early life Hoppner was born in Whitechapel, London, the son of German parents – his mothe ...

Thomas Lawrence Sir Thomas Lawrence (13 April 1769 – 7 January 1830) was an English portrait painter and the fourth president of the Royal Academy. A child prodigy, he was born in Bristol and began drawing in Devizes, where his father was an innkeeper at t ...

and William Owen (1769–1825). His mother, Priscilla (née Guise) was also a good miniaturist, but died when John William was still an infant in 1802. At the age of 10 he was sent to school at Loughborough House in

Brixton Brixton is a district in south London, part of the London Borough of Lambeth, England. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London. Brixton experienced a rapid rise in population during the 19th ce ...

but had to be withdrawn due to ill-health, which he suffered from throughout his life. He was apprenticed to

Thomas Phillips Thomas Phillips RA (18 October 177020 April 1845) was a leading English portrait and subject painter. He painted many of the great men of the day including scientists, artists, writers, poets and explorers. Life and work Phillips was born at ...

(1770–1845), and from 1825 was a frequent exhibitor at the

Royal Academy The Royal Academy of Arts (RA) is an art institution based in Burlington House on Piccadilly in London. Founded in 1768, it has a unique position as an independent, privately funded institution led by eminent artists and architects. Its pur ...

, mainly of portraits. In 1831 he was elected an associate of the Old Watercolour Society, and in 1842 a full member; in 1844 he succeeded

Robert Hills Robert Hills (26 June 1769 – 14 May 1844) was an English painter and etcher. Hills was born in Islington. He initially studied under John Alexander Gresse, then enrolled at the Royal Academy of Arts in 1788. He primarily painted rural scene ...

(1769–1844) as secretary. Wright painted domestic and sentimental subjects in the style then popular, and also historical compositions, notable for their detailed depictions of costumes; the plays of

Shakespeare William Shakespeare ( 26 April 1564 – 23 April 1616) was an English playwright, poet and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's nation ...

were a frequent source of inspiration. Engravings of his pictures featured in publications such as "

The Keepsake ''The Keepsake'' was an English literary annual which ran from 1828 to 1857, published each Christmas from 1827 to 1856, for perusal during the year of the title. Like other literary annuals, ''The Keepsake'' was an anthology of short fiction, po ...

", " The Literary Souvenir", and Heath's "Book of Beauty", "The Drawing-room Scrap Book", and "The Female Characters of Shakespeare".Charles Heath.
The heroines of Shakespeare: comprising the principal female characters in the plays of the great poet
' (New York: John Wiley, 1849). His portraits of Lord Tenterden, Bishop Gray, and Bishop Marsh were engraved for Fisher's "National Portrait Gallery". Wright died at his house in

Great Marlborough Street Great Marlborough Street is a thoroughfare in Soho, Central London. It runs east of Regent Street past Carnaby Street towards Noel Street. Originally part of the Millfield estate south of Tyburn Road (now Oxford Street), the street was named ...

, London, on 14 January 1848, from

influenza Influenza, commonly known as "the flu", is an infectious disease caused by influenza viruses. Symptoms range from mild to severe and often include fever, runny nose, sore throat, muscle pain, headache, coughing, and fatigue. These symptoms ...

, leaving a widow and two children. The remaining works in his studio were sold by Christie & Manson in March, the same year. Note: John William Wright and John Masey Wright (1777–1866) have been frequently confused with each other (according to the

Folger Shakespeare Library The Folger Shakespeare Library is an independent research library on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., United States. It has the world's largest collection of the printed works of William Shakespeare, and is a primary repository for rare material ...

), as they both worked for Charles Heath and their birth and death dates overlap.

References

External links

J. W. Wright on ArtnetJ W Wright at the National Portrait Gallery
(Sim Fine Art)
The return
(engraving by H. Cook -

National Maritime Museum The National Maritime Museum (NMM) is a maritime museum in Greenwich, London. It is part of Royal Museums Greenwich, a network of museums in the Maritime Greenwich World Heritage Site. Like other publicly funded national museums in the United ...

)
The maiden's return
(engraving by W. C. Wrankmore - National Maritime Museum)
Who's there
(engraving by W.C Wrankmore - National Maritime Museum) {{DEFAULTSORT:Wright, John William 19th-century English painters English male painters British genre painters English portrait painters English watercolourists English illustrators Deaths from influenza 1802 births 1848 deaths 19th-century English male artists