Thomas StothardRA (17 August 1755 – 27 April 1834) was a British painter, illustrator and engraver. His son, Robert T. Stothard was a painter (fl. 1810): he painted the proclamation outside York Minster of Queen Victoria's accession to the throne in June 1837.
Stothard was born in London, the son of a well-to-do innkeeper in Long Acre. A delicate child, he was sent at the age of five to a relative in Yorkshire, and attended school at Acomb, and afterwards at Tadcaster and at Ilford, Essex. Showing talent for drawing, he was apprenticed to a draughtsman of patterns for brocaded silks in Spitalfields. In his spare time, he attempted illustrations for the works of his favourite poets. Some of these drawings were praised by James Harrison, the editor of the Novelist's Magazine. Stothard's master having died, he resolved to devote himself to art.
In 1778 Stothard became a student of the Royal Academy, of which he was elected associate in 1792 and full academician in 1794. In 1812 he was appointed librarian to the Academy after serving as assistant for two years.[1] Among his earliest book illustrations are plates engraved for Ossian and for Bell's Poets. In 1780, he became a regular contributor to the Novelist's Magazine, for which he produced 148 designs, including his eleven illustrations to The Adventures of Peregrine Pickle (by Tobias Smollett) and his graceful subjects from Clarissa and The History of Sir Charles Grandison (both by Samuel Richardson).
From 1786, Thomas Fielding, a friend of Stothard's and engraver, produced engravings using designs by Stothard, Angelika Kauffmann, and of his own. Arcadian scenes were especially esteemed. Fielding realised these in colour, using copper engraving, and achieved excellent quality. Stothard's designs had an exceptional aesthetic appeal.
He designed plates for pocket-books, tickets for concerts, illustrations to almanacs, and portraits of popular actors. These are popular with collectors for their grace and distinction. His more important works include illustrations for:
His figure-subjects in Samuel Rogers's Italy (1830) and Poems (1834) demonstrate that even in old age, his imagination remained fertile and his hand firm.
Art historian Ralph Nicholson Wornum estimated that Stothard's designs number five thousand and, of these, about three thousand were engraved. His oil pictures are usually small. His colouring is often rich and glowing in the style of Rubens, whom Stothard admired. The Vintage, perhaps his most important oil painting, is in the National Gallery. He contributed to John Boydell's Shakespeare Gallery, but his best-known painting is the Procession of the Canterbury Pilgrims, in Tate Britain, the engraving from which, begun by Luigi and continued by Niccolo Schiavonetti and finished by James Heath, was immensely popular. The commission for this picture was given to Stothard by Robert Hartley Cromek, and was the cause of a quarrel with his friend William Blake. It was followed by a companion work, the Flitch of Bacon, which was drawn in sepia for the engraver but was never carried out in colour.
Thomas Stothard, The Pilgrimage to Canterbury (1806–07, Tate Britain)
After Thomas Stothard, The Pilgrimage to Canterbury, engraved by Luigi Schiavonetti & James Heath (1809–17, Tate Britain)
In addition to his easel pictures, Stothard decorated the grand staircase of Burghley House, near Stamford in Lincolnshire, with subjects of War, Intemperance, and the Descent of Orpheus in Hell (1799–1803); the library of Colonel Johnes' mansion of Hafod, in North Wales, with a series of scenes from Froissart and Monstrelet painted in imitation of relief[2] (1810); and the cupola of the upper hall of the Advocates' Library, Edinburgh (later occupied by the Signet Library), with Apollo and the Muses, and figures of poets, orators, etc. (1822). He prepared designs for a frieze and other sculptural decorations for Buckingham Palace, which were not executed, owing to the death of George IV. He also designed a shield presented to the Duke of Wellington by the merchants of London, and executed a series of eight etchings from the various subjects that adorned it.[1]
Personal life
Stothard married Rebecca Watkins (d. 1825) in 1783. They had eleven children, of whom six – five sons and one daughter – survived infancy.[3] They lived in Henrietta Street, Covent Garden, until 1794, when they moved to a house at 28 Newman Street, Fitzrovia of which Stothard had bought the freehold.[4] His wife died in 1825.[5] His sons included Thomas, accidentally shot dead in about 1801;[6] the antiquarian illustrator Charles Alfred Stothard, who also predeceased his father;[7] and Alfred Joseph Stothard, medallist to George IV.[8]
Stothard died on 27 April 1834, and was buried in Bunhill Fields burial ground in north London.[9]
In literature
Wikisource has original text related to this article:
'Stothard's Erato', a poem by L. E. L.
Wikisource has original text related to this article:
'The Fairy Queen Sleeping by Stothard', a poem by L. E. L.
Stothard's painting of Erato (one of the Muses) is given a poetical illustration by Letitia Elizabeth Landon in her "Poetical Catalogue of Pictures", in the Literary Gazette (1823).[10] Another of his paintings, The Fairy Queen Sleeping, is poetically examined in a similar fashion in her "Poetical Sketches of Modern Pictures" in The Troubadour (1826).[11]
^Jones, J. A., ed. (1849). Bunhill Memorials: sacred reminiscences of three hundred ministers and other persons of note, who are buried in Bunhill Fields, of every denomination. London: James Paul. p. 358.
^ Landon, Letitia Elizabeth (1823). "Original poetry". Literary Gazette, 1823. The Proprietors, Literary Gazette Office, Strand. p. 507.
^ Landon, Letitia Elizabeth. "The Fairy Queen Sleeping". The Troubadour, 1825. Longman, Rees, Orme, Brown and Green. p. 269.
References
Coxhead, Albert Crease (1906), Thomas Stothard, R.A., an Illustrated Monograph, London: A.H. Bullen – Contains a short biographical chapter, and an accurately dated summary of the various books and periodicals illustrated by Stothard.
Attribution
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Stothard, Thomas". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 25 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 970–971.
Further reading
Bray, Anna Elizabeth. Life of Thomas Stothard, R. A., with personal reminiscences: Volume 1, Volume 2 (London, J. Murray, 1851).
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Thomas Stothard.
74 artworks by or after Thomas Stothard at the Art UK site
Thomas Stothard online
Works by Stothard (Government Art Collection)
Paintings by Thomas Stothard (Bridgeman Art Library)
Home. An engraving by Charles Heath of a painting by Stothard made for Friendship's Offering, 1825 with illustrative verse by Letitia Elizabeth Landon.
Sans Souci. An engraving by Robert Brandard of a painting by Stothard made for The Bijou annual for 1828 with illustrative verse by Letitia Elizabeth Landon.
Cottage Courtship. An engraving by Edward Smith of Stothard's painting for Fisher's Drawing Room Scrap Book, 1835, with a poetical illustration by Letitia Elizabeth Landon.
May 19, 2023
thomas, stothard, august, 1755, april, 1834, british, painter, illustrator, engraver, robert, stothard, painter, 1810, painted, proclamation, outside, york, minster, queen, victoria, accession, throne, june, 1837, portrait, john, wood, 1833, contents, early, l. Thomas Stothard RA 17 August 1755 27 April 1834 was a British painter illustrator and engraver His son Robert T Stothard was a painter fl 1810 he painted the proclamation outside York Minster of Queen Victoria s accession to the throne in June 1837 Portrait of Thomas Stothard by John Wood 1833 Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 3 Personal life 4 In literature 5 Notes 6 References 7 Further reading 8 External linksEarly life EditStothard was born in London the son of a well to do innkeeper in Long Acre A delicate child he was sent at the age of five to a relative in Yorkshire and attended school at Acomb and afterwards at Tadcaster and at Ilford Essex Showing talent for drawing he was apprenticed to a draughtsman of patterns for brocaded silks in Spitalfields In his spare time he attempted illustrations for the works of his favourite poets Some of these drawings were praised by James Harrison the editor of the Novelist s Magazine Stothard s master having died he resolved to devote himself to art General Washington Dallas Museum of ArtCareer EditIn 1778 Stothard became a student of the Royal Academy of which he was elected associate in 1792 and full academician in 1794 In 1812 he was appointed librarian to the Academy after serving as assistant for two years 1 Among his earliest book illustrations are plates engraved for Ossian and for Bell s Poets In 1780 he became a regular contributor to the Novelist s Magazine for which he produced 148 designs including his eleven illustrations to The Adventures of Peregrine Pickle by Tobias Smollett and his graceful subjects from Clarissa and The History of Sir Charles Grandison both by Samuel Richardson From 1786 Thomas Fielding a friend of Stothard s and engraver produced engravings using designs by Stothard Angelika Kauffmann and of his own Arcadian scenes were especially esteemed Fielding realised these in colour using copper engraving and achieved excellent quality Stothard s designs had an exceptional aesthetic appeal He designed plates for pocket books tickets for concerts illustrations to almanacs and portraits of popular actors These are popular with collectors for their grace and distinction His more important works include illustrations for Two sets for Daniel Defoe s Robinson Crusoe one for the New Magazine and one for Stockdale s edition John Bunyan s The Pilgrim s Progress 1788 Harding s edition of Oliver Goldsmith s The Vicar of Wakefield 1792 Alexander Pope s The Rape of the Lock 1798 The works of the Swiss poet Salomon Gessner 1802 William Cowper s Poems 1825 Giovanni Boccaccio s The DecameronHis figure subjects in Samuel Rogers s Italy 1830 and Poems 1834 demonstrate that even in old age his imagination remained fertile and his hand firm Art historian Ralph Nicholson Wornum estimated that Stothard s designs number five thousand and of these about three thousand were engraved His oil pictures are usually small His colouring is often rich and glowing in the style of Rubens whom Stothard admired The Vintage perhaps his most important oil painting is in the National Gallery He contributed to John Boydell s Shakespeare Gallery but his best known painting is the Procession of the Canterbury Pilgrims in Tate Britain the engraving from which begun by Luigi and continued by Niccolo Schiavonetti and finished by James Heath was immensely popular The commission for this picture was given to Stothard by Robert Hartley Cromek and was the cause of a quarrel with his friend William Blake It was followed by a companion work the Flitch of Bacon which was drawn in sepia for the engraver but was never carried out in colour Thomas Stothard The Pilgrimage to Canterbury 1806 07 Tate Britain After Thomas Stothard The Pilgrimage to Canterbury engraved by Luigi Schiavonetti amp James Heath 1809 17 Tate Britain In addition to his easel pictures Stothard decorated the grand staircase of Burghley House near Stamford in Lincolnshire with subjects of War Intemperance and the Descent of Orpheus in Hell 1799 1803 the library of Colonel Johnes mansion of Hafod in North Wales with a series of scenes from Froissart and Monstrelet painted in imitation of relief 2 1810 and the cupola of the upper hall of the Advocates Library Edinburgh later occupied by the Signet Library with Apollo and the Muses and figures of poets orators etc 1822 He prepared designs for a frieze and other sculptural decorations for Buckingham Palace which were not executed owing to the death of George IV He also designed a shield presented to the Duke of Wellington by the merchants of London and executed a series of eight etchings from the various subjects that adorned it 1 Personal life EditStothard married Rebecca Watkins d 1825 in 1783 They had eleven children of whom six five sons and one daughter survived infancy 3 They lived in Henrietta Street Covent Garden until 1794 when they moved to a house at 28 Newman Street Fitzrovia of which Stothard had bought the freehold 4 His wife died in 1825 5 His sons included Thomas accidentally shot dead in about 1801 6 the antiquarian illustrator Charles Alfred Stothard who also predeceased his father 7 and Alfred Joseph Stothard medallist to George IV 8 Stothard died on 27 April 1834 and was buried in Bunhill Fields burial ground in north London 9 In literature Edit Wikisource has original text related to this article Stothard s Erato a poem by L E L Wikisource has original text related to this article The Fairy Queen Sleeping by Stothard a poem by L E L Stothard s painting of Erato one of the Muses is given a poetical illustration by Letitia Elizabeth Landon in her Poetical Catalogue of Pictures in the Literary Gazette 1823 10 Another of his paintings The Fairy Queen Sleeping is poetically examined in a similar fashion in her Poetical Sketches of Modern Pictures in The Troubadour 1826 11 Notes Edit a b Chisholm 1911 Coxhead 1906 p 12 Coxhead 1906 p 6 Coxhead 1906 p 8 Coxhead 1906 p 15 Coxhead 1906 p 10 Coxhead 1906 p 14 Coxhead 1906 p 18 Jones J A ed 1849 Bunhill Memorials sacred reminiscences of three hundred ministers and other persons of note who are buried in Bunhill Fields of every denomination London James Paul p 358 Landon Letitia Elizabeth 1823 Original poetry Literary Gazette 1823 The Proprietors Literary Gazette Office Strand p 507 Landon Letitia Elizabeth The Fairy Queen Sleeping The Troubadour 1825 Longman Rees Orme Brown and Green p 269 References EditCoxhead Albert Crease 1906 Thomas Stothard R A an Illustrated Monograph London A H Bullen Contains a short biographical chapter and an accurately dated summary of the various books and periodicals illustrated by Stothard Attribution This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Chisholm Hugh ed 1911 Stothard Thomas Encyclopaedia Britannica Vol 25 11th ed Cambridge University Press pp 970 971 Further reading EditBray Anna Elizabeth Life of Thomas Stothard R A with personal reminiscences Volume 1 Volume 2 London J Murray 1851 Dobson Austin Eighteenth Century Vignettes volume 1 London Chatto amp Windus 1892 Stothard Thomas Dictionary of National Biography 1885 1900 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Thomas Stothard 74 artworks by or after Thomas Stothard at the Art UK site Thomas Stothard online Works by Stothard Government Art Collection Paintings by Thomas Stothard Bridgeman Art Library Home An engraving by Charles Heath of a painting by Stothard made for Friendship s Offering 1825 with illustrative verse by Letitia Elizabeth Landon Sans Souci An engraving by Robert Brandard of a painting by Stothard made for The Bijou annual for 1828 with illustrative verse by Letitia Elizabeth Landon Cottage Courtship An engraving by Edward Smith of Stothard s painting for Fisher s Drawing Room Scrap Book 1835 with a poetical illustration by Letitia Elizabeth Landon Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Thomas Stothard amp oldid 1142480672, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
