John Taylor (1739–1838) was an English portrait painter.

Life

Born in

Bishopsgate Street Bishopsgate was one of the eastern gates in London's former defensive wall. The gate's name is traditionally attributed to Earconwald, who was Bishop of London in the 7th century. It was first built in Roman times and marked the beginning of ...

, London, Taylor was the son of an officer in the customs. He studied art at the St. Martin's Lane Academy, and also under

Francis Hayman Francis Hayman (1708 – 2 February 1776) was an English painter and illustrator who became one of the founding members of the Royal Academy in 1768, and later its first librarian. Life and works Born in Exeter, Devon, Hayman begun his arti ...

. In 1766 he was one of the original members of the

Incorporated Society of Artists The Society of Artists of Great Britain was founded in London in May 1761 by an association of artists in order to provide a venue for the public exhibition of recent work by living artists, such as was having success in the long-established P ...

. Known for highly finished portraits in pencil, Taylor was from 1779 an intermittent exhibitor at the

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

. Later in life he saved money by teaching in London, with the support of John Alexander Gresse and

Paul Sandby Paul Sandby (1731 – 7 November 1809) was an English map-maker turned Landscape art, landscape painter in watercolours, who, along with his older brother Thomas Sandby, Thomas, became one of the founding members of the Royal Academy in 17 ...

. He invested in annuities to last him to the age of 100. Taylor died in Cirencester Place,

Marylebone Marylebone (usually , also ) is an area in London, England, and is located in the City of Westminster. It is in Central London and part of the West End. Oxford Street forms its southern boundary. An ancient parish and latterly a metropo ...

, London, on 21 November 1838, in his ninety-ninth year. He was a friend of the sculptor

Joseph Nollekens Joseph Nollekens R.A. (11 August 1737 – 23 April 1823) was a sculptor from London generally considered to be the finest British sculptor of the late 18th century. Life Nollekens was born on 11 August 1737 at 28 Dean Street, Soho, London, ...

, who made a bust of him, and left him a legacy in his will.

Notes

Attribution {{DEFAULTSORT:Taylor, John 1739 births 1838 deaths English portrait painters English draughtsmen