Self-portrait, 1830James Ward - Venus Rising from her Couch -
Born in London to James Ward and Rachael Goldsmith, and younger brother of William Ward the engraver, James Ward was influenced by many people, but his career is conventionally divided into two periods: until 1803, his single greatest influence was his brother in law George Morland; from that time, it was Rubens.
From 1810 or so onward, Ward specialised in painting horses within landscapes; slightly later, he turned to very large-scale landscapes, of which Gordale Scar (Tate, London), completed in 1814 or 1815 and depicting Gordale Scar (Yorkshire) as an example of the sublime, is considered his masterpiece and a masterpiece of EnglishRomanticpainting.[1]
Gordale Scar
Ward devoted much of the period 1815–21 to the painting of a gigantic work titled Allegory of Waterloo (now lost); this neither was much praised nor brought in the revenue Ward had hoped for. The experience may have embittered him, and the deaths of his first wife and a daughter were among other tragedies. Like many artists of the time, Ward sought commissions from wealthy gentry of their favorite horses, their favorite hunting dogs or their children.[2]
One such family that Ward painted and drew repeatedly, and whom he counted among his friends, were the Levett family of Wynchnor Park, Staffordshire. One of Ward's best-known portraits was his Theophilus Levett hunting at Wychnor, Staffordshire of 1817.[3] Another was Ward's 1811 painting entitled The Reverend Thomas Levett and his favourite dogs, cock-shooting. Ward also painted a group portrait of three Levett children — John, Theophilus and Frances Levett.[4] (For the Levetts, see link to the Ward exhibit at the Yale Center for British Art.)[5]
Family
James Ward was first married to Mary Ann Ward (no known relation) in 1794, and after her death to Charlotte Fritche in 1827 (supposedly a relative of his first wife).
James and Mary Ann Ward had several children including:
Matilda Louisa Ward, who married the artist John Jackson.
James Ward was the paternal grandfather of the painter Henrietta Ward and the great-grandfather of Leslie Ward, the Vanity Fair caricaturist.[1]
In 1830, Ward moved to Cheshunt (Hertfordshire) with his second wife, but he continued to work, particularly on religious themes. A stroke in 1855 ended his work, and he died in poverty. He is buried at Kensal Green Cemetery.[7] His monument was sculpted by John Henry Foley in 1866.[8]
Style
The Deer Stealer
James Ward was one of the outstanding artists of the day, his singular style and great skill set him above most of his contemporaries, markedly influencing the growth of British art. Regarded as one of the great animal painters of his time, James produced history paintings, portraits, landscapes and genre. He started off as an engraver, trained by William, who later engraved much of his work. The partnership of William and James Ward produced the best that English art had to offer, their great technical skill and artistry having led to images that reflect the grace and charm of the era. He was admitted for membership into the Royal Academy in 1811.[9]
An Overshot Mill in Aberdulais, Wales, 1847Marengo 1824 (Private collection)The Levett Children. John, Theophilus and Frances Levett, Wychnor, Staffordshire, November 1811
One of Ward's best-known paintings, The Deer Stealer, was commissioned in 1823 for the sum of 500 guineas by Ward's patron Theophilus Levett. When the work was finished, Levett pronounced himself delighted with the results, and consequently raised the remuneration to 600 guineas. Subsequently, Ward was said to have been offered 1,000 guineas for the painting by 'a nobleman,' which he declined. The painting now hangs at Tate in London.[10]
^The Sporting Magazine, or Monthly Calendar of the Transactions of The Turf and The Chase and Every Other Diversion Interesting to the Man of Pleasure Enterprise & Spirit, Vol. 19, New Series, Printed for J. Pittman, London, 1827. 1827. Retrieved 4 February 2012.
^"The New York Times, Grace Glueck, July 30, 2004". New York Times. 30 July 2004. Retrieved 4 February 2012.
^"Group Portrait of John, Theophilus and Frances Levett, James Ward, November 1811, Christie's". Christies.com. Retrieved 4 February 2012.
^Babbage, F. (1900). Animal Painters of England from the Year 1650, Walter Gilbey, 1900. Vinton & Company. p. 232. Retrieved 4 February 2012. theophilus levett.
^"Patrick T Nisbett". Familytreemaker.genealogy.com. 15 August 1996. Retrieved 4 February 2012.
^Paths of Glory. Friends of Kensal Green Cemetery. 1997. p. 103.
^Dictionary of British Sculptors 1660-1851 by Rupert Gunnis p.154
^"Art Review: Dashing World of Animals as Regal as Their Owners, Grace Glueck, The New York Times, July 30, 2004". The New York Times. 30 July 2004. Retrieved 4 February 2012.
^A Great British Collection, sothebys.com[dead link]
Beckett, Oliver. The Life and Work of James Ward, RA. Book Guild, 1995.
Farr, Dennis. James Ward 1769–1859. London: Arts Council, 1960.
Frankau, Julia. Eighteenth century artists and engravers: William Ward A.R.A., James Ward R.A.: Their Lives and Works. London: Macmillan, 1904.
Fussell, G. E. James Ward R.A., Animal Painter 1769–1859 and His England. London: Michael Joseph, 1974. ISBN0-7181-1242-3
Grundy, Reginald. James Ward, R.A.: His Life and Works with a Catalogue of his Engravings and Pictures. London, 1909. (An extra number of The Connoisseur.)
Nygren, Edward J. James Ward's "Gordale Scar": An Essay in the Sublime. London: Tate, 1982. ISBN0-905005-93-7
Murray, P. & L. (1996). Dictionary of art and artists London: Penguin Books. ISBN0-14-051300-0. p. 557.
Opening address, The Art of James Ward, Yale Center for British Art, New Haven, Conn., May 20, 2004, curator Angus Trumble[permanent dead link]
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to James Ward.
. Sothebys. Archived from the original on 7 August 2016. Retrieved 13 February 2012.
James Ward at the Yale Center for British Art 12 June 2010 at the Wayback Machine
100 artworks by or after James Ward at the Art UK site
james, ward, english, artist, james, ward, october, 1769, november, 1859, english, painter, particularly, animals, engraver, james, wardself, portrait, 1848born, 1769, october, 1769london, englanddied17, november, 1859, 1859, aged, cheshunt, hertfordshire, eng. James Ward RA 23 October 1769 17 November 1859 was an English painter particularly of animals and an engraver James WardSelf portrait 1848Born 1769 10 23 23 October 1769London EnglandDied17 November 1859 1859 11 17 aged 90 Cheshunt Hertfordshire EnglandNationalityEnglishKnown forPainting EngravingMovementLandscapes RomanticismSpousesMary Ann Ward m 1794 wbr Charlotte Fritche m 1827 wbr RelativesHenrietta Ward granddaughter Leslie Ward great grandson AwardsRoyal Academician R A Influenced byGeorge Morland Rubens Contents 1 Biography 2 Family 3 Style 4 See also 5 References 6 Further reading 7 External linksBiography Edit Self portrait 1830 James Ward Venus Rising from her Couch Born in London to James Ward and Rachael Goldsmith and younger brother of William Ward the engraver James Ward was influenced by many people but his career is conventionally divided into two periods until 1803 his single greatest influence was his brother in law George Morland from that time it was Rubens From 1810 or so onward Ward specialised in painting horses within landscapes slightly later he turned to very large scale landscapes of which Gordale Scar Tate London completed in 1814 or 1815 and depicting Gordale Scar Yorkshire as an example of the sublime is considered his masterpiece and a masterpiece of English Romantic painting 1 Gordale ScarWard devoted much of the period 1815 21 to the painting of a gigantic work titled Allegory of Waterloo now lost this neither was much praised nor brought in the revenue Ward had hoped for The experience may have embittered him and the deaths of his first wife and a daughter were among other tragedies Like many artists of the time Ward sought commissions from wealthy gentry of their favorite horses their favorite hunting dogs or their children 2 One such family that Ward painted and drew repeatedly and whom he counted among his friends were the Levett family of Wynchnor Park Staffordshire One of Ward s best known portraits was his Theophilus Levett hunting at Wychnor Staffordshire of 1817 3 Another was Ward s 1811 painting entitled The Reverend Thomas Levett and his favourite dogs cock shooting Ward also painted a group portrait of three Levett children John Theophilus and Frances Levett 4 For the Levetts see link to the Ward exhibit at the Yale Center for British Art 5 Family EditJames Ward was first married to Mary Ann Ward no known relation in 1794 and after her death to Charlotte Fritche in 1827 supposedly a relative of his first wife James and Mary Ann Ward had several children including Matilda Louisa Ward who married the artist John Jackson George Raphael Ward b 1798 d 1879 6 James Ward was the paternal grandfather of the painter Henrietta Ward and the great grandfather of Leslie Ward the Vanity Fair caricaturist 1 In 1830 Ward moved to Cheshunt Hertfordshire with his second wife but he continued to work particularly on religious themes A stroke in 1855 ended his work and he died in poverty He is buried at Kensal Green Cemetery 7 His monument was sculpted by John Henry Foley in 1866 8 Style Edit The Deer StealerJames Ward was one of the outstanding artists of the day his singular style and great skill set him above most of his contemporaries markedly influencing the growth of British art Regarded as one of the great animal painters of his time James produced history paintings portraits landscapes and genre He started off as an engraver trained by William who later engraved much of his work The partnership of William and James Ward produced the best that English art had to offer their great technical skill and artistry having led to images that reflect the grace and charm of the era He was admitted for membership into the Royal Academy in 1811 9 An Overshot Mill in Aberdulais Wales 1847 Marengo 1824 Private collection The Levett Children John Theophilus and Frances Levett Wychnor Staffordshire November 1811One of Ward s best known paintings The Deer Stealer was commissioned in 1823 for the sum of 500 guineas by Ward s patron Theophilus Levett When the work was finished Levett pronounced himself delighted with the results and consequently raised the remuneration to 600 guineas Subsequently Ward was said to have been offered 1 000 guineas for the painting by a nobleman which he declined The painting now hangs at Tate in London 10 See also EditList of British artistsReferences Edit a b Chisholm 1911 The Sporting Magazine or Monthly Calendar of the Transactions of The Turf and The Chase and Every Other Diversion Interesting to the Man of Pleasure Enterprise amp Spirit Vol 19 New Series Printed for J Pittman London 1827 1827 Retrieved 4 February 2012 The New York Times Grace Glueck July 30 2004 New York Times 30 July 2004 Retrieved 4 February 2012 Group Portrait of John Theophilus and Frances Levett James Ward November 1811 Christie s Christies com Retrieved 4 February 2012 Babbage F 1900 Animal Painters of England from the Year 1650 Walter Gilbey 1900 Vinton amp Company p 232 Retrieved 4 February 2012 theophilus levett Patrick T Nisbett Familytreemaker genealogy com 15 August 1996 Retrieved 4 February 2012 Paths of Glory Friends of Kensal Green Cemetery 1997 p 103 Dictionary of British Sculptors 1660 1851 by Rupert Gunnis p 154 Art Review Dashing World of Animals as Regal as Their Owners Grace Glueck The New York Times July 30 2004 The New York Times 30 July 2004 Retrieved 4 February 2012 A Great British Collection sothebys com dead link AttributionChisholm Hugh ed 1911 Ward James painter Encyclopaedia Britannica 11th ed Cambridge University Press Further reading EditBeckett Oliver The Life and Work of James Ward RA Book Guild 1995 Farr Dennis James Ward 1769 1859 London Arts Council 1960 Frankau Julia Eighteenth century artists and engravers William Ward A R A James Ward R A Their Lives and Works London Macmillan 1904 Fussell G E James Ward R A Animal Painter 1769 1859 and His England London Michael Joseph 1974 ISBN 0 7181 1242 3 Grundy Reginald James Ward R A His Life and Works with a Catalogue of his Engravings and Pictures London 1909 An extra number of The Connoisseur Nygren Edward J James Ward s Gordale Scar An Essay in the Sublime London Tate 1982 ISBN 0 905005 93 7 Murray P amp L 1996 Dictionary of art and artists London Penguin Books ISBN 0 14 051300 0 p 557 Opening address The Art of James Ward Yale Center for British Art New Haven Conn May 20 2004 curator Angus Trumble permanent dead link External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to James Ward James Ward Sothebys Archived from the original on 7 August 2016 Retrieved 13 February 2012 James Ward at the Yale Center for British Art Archived 12 June 2010 at the Wayback Machine Group Portrait of John Theophilus and Frances Levett 100 artworks by or after James Ward at the Art UK site Scientist of the Day James Ward at Linda Hall Library Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title James Ward English artist amp oldid 1155836869, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
