Edmund Bristow
Encyclopedia
Edmund Bristow was an English animal
, still life
and subject painter.
, Berkshire, the son of an heraldic
painter. At an early age he was patronised by the Princess Elizabeth
, the Duke of Clarence
(afterwards William IV
), and others. He made sketches of well-known characters in Eton and Windsor
, painted still life, interiors, and domestic and sporting subjects. He had great sympathy with animals, some power of rendering their characteristic movements and expressions, and is said to have been a friend of and given advice to Sir Edwin Landseer.
In 1809 he exhibited a painting, "Smith shoeing a Horse", at the Royal Academy
, and was an occasional exhibitor there and at the British Institution
, and Society of British Artists, until the year 1838, when he exhibited the "Donkey Race" at the latter's gallery in Suffolk Street.
Bristowe was an eccentric man of independent spirit and worked only when the spirit moved him – not to order. He sometimes refused even to sell his finished works. He excelled in the drawing of monkeys, cats, and horses. His works tended to be small in scale, well observed and with great attention to detail. Many of his works were bought by private collectors in the local area. Amongst his paintings may be mentioned: 'Monkey Pugilists,' 'Cat's Paw,' 'Law and Justice,' 'Incredulity,' 'The Rehearsal,' 'Pros and Cons of Life.' Engravings of a few of his works appeared in The Sporting Magazine
and elsewhere.
Bristow produced little during the fifteen years immediately preceding his death, which took place at Eton on the 12th February 1876, at the age of 89.
Animal painter
An animal painter is an artist who specializes in or is known for their skill in the portrayal of animals, essentially up to about 1900. During the last century "wildlife artist" became the preferred term for contemporary animal painters....
, still life
Still life
A still life is a work of art depicting mostly inanimate subject matter, typically commonplace objects which may be either natural or man-made...
and subject painter.
Life and work
Bristow was born in EtonEton, Berkshire
Eton is a town and civil parish in Berkshire, England, lying on the opposite bank of the River Thames to Windsor and connected to it by Windsor Bridge. The parish also includes the large village of Eton Wick, 2 miles west of the town, and has a population of 4,980. Eton was in Buckinghamshire until...
, Berkshire, the son of an heraldic
Heraldry
Heraldry is the profession, study, or art of creating, granting, and blazoning arms and ruling on questions of rank or protocol, as exercised by an officer of arms. Heraldry comes from Anglo-Norman herald, from the Germanic compound harja-waldaz, "army commander"...
painter. At an early age he was patronised by the Princess Elizabeth
Princess Elizabeth of the United Kingdom
The Princess Elizabeth was a member of the British Royal Family, the seventh child and third daughter of King George III and Queen Charlotte...
, the Duke of Clarence
William IV of the United Kingdom
William IV was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and of Hanover from 26 June 1830 until his death...
(afterwards William IV
William IV of the United Kingdom
William IV was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and of Hanover from 26 June 1830 until his death...
), and others. He made sketches of well-known characters in Eton and Windsor
Windsor, Berkshire
Windsor is an affluent suburban town and unparished area in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead in Berkshire, England. It is widely known as the site of Windsor Castle, one of the official residences of the British Royal Family....
, painted still life, interiors, and domestic and sporting subjects. He had great sympathy with animals, some power of rendering their characteristic movements and expressions, and is said to have been a friend of and given advice to Sir Edwin Landseer.
In 1809 he exhibited a painting, "Smith shoeing a Horse", at the Royal Academy
Royal Academy
The Royal Academy of Arts is an art institution based in Burlington House on Piccadilly, London. The Royal Academy of Arts has a unique position in being an independent, privately funded institution led by eminent artists and architects whose purpose is to promote the creation, enjoyment and...
, and was an occasional exhibitor there and at the British Institution
British Institution
The British Institution was a private 19th-century society in London formed to exhibit the works of living and dead artists; it was also known as the Pall Mall Picture Galleries or the British Gallery...
, and Society of British Artists, until the year 1838, when he exhibited the "Donkey Race" at the latter's gallery in Suffolk Street.
Bristowe was an eccentric man of independent spirit and worked only when the spirit moved him – not to order. He sometimes refused even to sell his finished works. He excelled in the drawing of monkeys, cats, and horses. His works tended to be small in scale, well observed and with great attention to detail. Many of his works were bought by private collectors in the local area. Amongst his paintings may be mentioned: 'Monkey Pugilists,' 'Cat's Paw,' 'Law and Justice,' 'Incredulity,' 'The Rehearsal,' 'Pros and Cons of Life.' Engravings of a few of his works appeared in The Sporting Magazine
The Sporting Magazine
The Sporting Magazine was the first English sporting periodical to devote itself to every type of sport, thus providing the historian with a reasonably comprehensive source.-History:...
and elsewhere.
Bristow produced little during the fifteen years immediately preceding his death, which took place at Eton on the 12th February 1876, at the age of 89.
External links
- Edmund Bristow on Artnet
- Two Skewbalds, a grey and spaniel etc (Oil, 1846 – Christie'sChristie'sChristie's is an art business and a fine arts auction house.- History :The official company literature states that founder James Christie conducted the first sale in London, England, on 5 December 1766, and the earliest auction catalogue the company retains is from December 1766...
) - London from Greenwich (oil – Christie's)
- The soldier's homecoming (Tate Fine art management)
- Don Quixote (Oil – Christie's)
- Off to market (Oil, 1828 – Burlington Paintings, 30 Jan 2011))
- The inside of an apothecary shop (Science MuseumScience museumA science museum or a science centre is a museum devoted primarily to science. Older science museums tended to concentrate on static displays of objects related to natural history, paleontology, geology, industry and industrial machinery, etc. Modern trends in museology have broadened the range of...
, London) - Edmund Bristow biography and paintings (Sphinx Fine Arts – accessed 30 Jan 2011)
- Paintings by Edmund Bristow (Lowndes Fine Art – accessed 30 Jan 2011))
- Edmund Bristow (Art Renewal Center Museum)