A Highland Loch by James Elliot
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Research by Marjorie Gregson
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Acc No 135 Artist James Elliot Artist dates 1850-1899 Medium oil on canvas Size 17.8 X 29.2 cm (7 x 11.5 in) Date painted unknown Inscr: signed (L.R.) Donor unknown Date donated unknown Also in the Collection: Mountainous Landscape by James Elliot |
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ARTIST The artist, identified by his signature, is James Elliot. His distinctive signature has the initials of his name conjoined, as can be seen in this picture in the bottom right hand corner. This is comparable with that on several of his paintings in national collections. According to 'The Dictionary of British Art, Victorian Painters' by Christopher Wood, his name was wrongly listed as Elliott with two t’s in 'The Royal Academy of Arts: a complete dictionary of contributors and their work from its foundation in 1769 to 1904' by Graves. This confusion may have arisen as there was also a Devon painter named James Elliott, born 1833, who painted scenes of Cornwall and Devon. Elliot was a landscape painter, primarily of Welsh landscapes, who exhibited at the Royal Academy‘s annual exhibitions between 1884 and 1897 and also at the Suffolk Street Gallery in London. His birthplace in 1850 was given as Scotland although he later lived at various addresses in Manchester and on the 1881 census there is a James Elliot, described as a landscape artist, lodging in Betws-y-Coed. The Snowdonia village was a thriving centre for artists during the 1800s and became known as the first artists’ colony in Britain. The Liverpool Mercury of 23 June 1886 reported that two of his paintings shown at the Southport Spring Exhibition in the Atkinson Art Gallery were priced at £15 each.These were entitled On the Liddal and On the Llugwy. An article entitled 'Welsh Exhibitors at the Royal Academy', which appeared in The Western Mail (Cardiff) on 3 May 1890, stated that 'Mr. James Elliott (sic), Miner’s Bridge House, Betws-y-Coed, sends a landscape, A Flood on the Glaslyn, a work of considerable merit'. Other works include: On the Gwyedd (1888) Kirklees Museum and Art Gallery Birch Wood in the Lledr Valley Williamson Art Gallery and Museum On Snowdon (1886) National Gallery of Wales In the Valley of the Ogwen (1885) Those Heavenly Hills All Veiled in Mist (1895) Rain Clearing Off (1897) A Quiet Spot for Contemplation The Last Rays of Sunlight (1889) Mountainous Landscape Lytham St Annes Art Collection His death was reported in The Scotsman on 10 August 1899: SUDDEN DEATH OF A SCOTTISH ARTIST IN WALES Mr James Elliot, a well-known Manchester landscape artist, died suddenly at Bettws-y-Coed, North Wales, late on Tuesday night. A few weeks ago the deceased contracted a cold while attending his father's funeral at Annan, and from that he never recovered. The deceased was the eldest son of the late Mr Robert Elliot, factor on Mr Salkeld's estate at Warmanbie. He was a frequent exhibitor in the art exhibitions in Manchester, where he mostly resided, going to Wales for the summer and autumn. He also occasionally exhibited his work in the Royal Academy. He was in the prime of life and gave promise of a successful career in art work. He is survived by a widow with no family PAINTING This painting is a finely executed study of a highland landscape painted in harmonious, warm earth tones which are reflected in the still waters. A lone figure in a boat can be seen where the loch curves away into the low hills. The scene is illuminated by the gentle light from the sky and the atmosphere created is one of calm and tranquility. |
REFERENCES www.findmypast.co.uk www.bbc/co.uk/yourpaintings www.royalacademy.org.uk/collectionsandlibrary www.arcadja.com Lancashire Digital Library, 19th Century British Newspapers |
