John Bagnold Burgess
Encyclopedia
John Bagnold Burgess was an English artist known for his of paintings of historical and genre scenes, principally in Spain
.
on the 21st of October 1829. He was the son of Henry W. Burgess, landscape painter to William IV, and part of a family of several generations of distinguished artists (see "Family" below). He was educated at "Brompton Grammar School" and, after the death of his father when he was 10 years old, received art training from William Charles Ross
, the miniature painter - who had been friend of his father. In 1848 he went to James Mathews Leigh
's art school in Soho
. In 1850 he exhibited a picture at the Royal Academy
and in 1849 entered the Academy schools, winning the first-class medal for life drawing
. Each year from 1852 until his death, Burgess was an annual contributor to the Academy's exhibitions.
Burgess started his career by painting portraits and genre works, before travelling to Spain in 1858, accompanied by his friend and fellow artist Edwin Long
- who would become his travelling companion on future painting trips to the country. For the next some thirty years, Burgess was an annual visitor to Spain, often spending days with Spanish peasants, living their life and sharing their food. He also went to Morocco
at least once. In 1860, he married Sophia, daughter of Robert Turner of Grantham
, Lincolnshire
.
Burgess's first great success was his "Bravo Toro" in 1865. Some of his other important works are "Stolen by Gypsies" (1868), "Kissing Relics in Spain" (1869), "The Barber's Prodigy" (1875), and "Licensing Beggars in Spain" (1877). In June 1877, Burgess was elected an associate of the Royal Academy. Other paintings are "The Letter-Writer" (1882), "The Scramble at the Wedding" (1884), and "Freedom of the Press" (1890), which was Burgess's diploma work upon being elected a full member of the Royal Academy in 1889. From 1850-1897, Burgess exhibited seventy-three pictures at the Royal Academy, fifteen at the British Institution
, and thirty or forty at other institutions.
He died on the 12th November 1897 at his home at 60 Finchley Road, London, from the congenital heart disease which had troubled him all his life, and was buried in the Paddington Cemetery at Willesden
.
(1749-1812), portrait painter; his great-grandfather Thomas Burgess
(fl. 1786) numbered Thomas Gainsborough
amongst his pupils; and he was nephew of John Cart Burgess
(1798-1863), a flower and landscape painter, and Thomas Burgess
(1784?-1807), landscape painter.
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
.
Life and work
Burgess was born in ChelseaChelsea, London
Chelsea is an area of West London, England, bounded to the south by the River Thames, where its frontage runs from Chelsea Bridge along the Chelsea Embankment, Cheyne Walk, Lots Road and Chelsea Harbour. Its eastern boundary was once defined by the River Westbourne, which is now in a pipe above...
on the 21st of October 1829. He was the son of Henry W. Burgess, landscape painter to William IV, and part of a family of several generations of distinguished artists (see "Family" below). He was educated at "Brompton Grammar School" and, after the death of his father when he was 10 years old, received art training from William Charles Ross
William Charles Ross
Sir William Charles Ross was an English portrait and portrait miniature painter of Scottish descent; early in his career, he was known for historical paintings. He became a member of the Royal Academy in 1842.-Life and work:...
, the miniature painter - who had been friend of his father. In 1848 he went to James Mathews Leigh
James Mathews Leigh
James Mathews Leigh was an English art educator, painter, writer, dramatist and critic. He is best known as the founder of a popular private art school in London known as "Leigh's Academy", which eventually became the present day Heatherley School of Fine Art.-Life and work:Leigh was born in...
's art school in Soho
Soho
Soho is an area of the City of Westminster and part of the West End of London. Long established as an entertainment district, for much of the 20th century Soho had a reputation for sex shops as well as night life and film industry. Since the early 1980s, the area has undergone considerable...
. In 1850 he exhibited a picture 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 in 1849 entered the Academy schools, winning the first-class medal for life drawing
Figure drawing
In art, a figure drawing is a study of the human form in its various shapes and body postures - sitting, standing or even sleeping. It is a study or stylized depiction of the human form, with the line and form of the human figure as the primary objective, rather than the subject person. It is a...
. Each year from 1852 until his death, Burgess was an annual contributor to the Academy's exhibitions.
Burgess started his career by painting portraits and genre works, before travelling to Spain in 1858, accompanied by his friend and fellow artist Edwin Long
Edwin Long
Edwin Longsden Long RA was an English genre, history, biblical and portrait painter.-Life and works:Long was born in Bath, Somerset, the son of E. Long, an artist , and was educated at Dr. Viner's School in Bath. Adopting the profession of a painter, Long came to London and studied in the British...
- who would become his travelling companion on future painting trips to the country. For the next some thirty years, Burgess was an annual visitor to Spain, often spending days with Spanish peasants, living their life and sharing their food. He also went to Morocco
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
at least once. In 1860, he married Sophia, daughter of Robert Turner of Grantham
Grantham
Grantham is a market town within the South Kesteven district of Lincolnshire, England. It bestrides the East Coast Main Line railway , the historic A1 main north-south road, and the River Witham. Grantham is located approximately south of the city of Lincoln, and approximately east of Nottingham...
, Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire is a county in the east of England. It borders Norfolk to the south east, Cambridgeshire to the south, Rutland to the south west, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire to the west, South Yorkshire to the north west, and the East Riding of Yorkshire to the north. It also borders...
.
Burgess's first great success was his "Bravo Toro" in 1865. Some of his other important works are "Stolen by Gypsies" (1868), "Kissing Relics in Spain" (1869), "The Barber's Prodigy" (1875), and "Licensing Beggars in Spain" (1877). In June 1877, Burgess was elected an associate of the Royal Academy. Other paintings are "The Letter-Writer" (1882), "The Scramble at the Wedding" (1884), and "Freedom of the Press" (1890), which was Burgess's diploma work upon being elected a full member of the Royal Academy in 1889. From 1850-1897, Burgess exhibited seventy-three pictures at the Royal Academy, fifteen 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 thirty or forty at other institutions.
He died on the 12th November 1897 at his home at 60 Finchley Road, London, from the congenital heart disease which had troubled him all his life, and was buried in the Paddington Cemetery at Willesden
Willesden
Willesden is an area in North West London which forms part of the London Borough of Brent. It is situated 5 miles north west of Charing Cross...
.
Family
John came from a family of notable painters: his father was H. W. Burgess, landscape painter to William IV; his grandfather William BurgessWilliam Burgess (painter)
William Burgess, a son of Thomas Burgess , and also a teacher of art, exhibited portraits and conversation pieces at the Free Society of Artists and the Royal Academy from 1769 till 1799. He died in London in 1812, aged 63. His son, H. W. Burgess, was landscape painter to William IV.-References:...
(1749-1812), portrait painter; his great-grandfather Thomas Burgess
Thomas Burgess (painter floruit 1786)
Thomas Burgess, who learned his art in the St. Martin's Lane Academy, sent pictures to the exhibitions of the Incorporated Society, of which he was a member, and to the Royal Academy. His works date from 1766 till 1786; they are conversation pieces, historic works, portraits, and landscapes. He...
(fl. 1786) numbered Thomas Gainsborough
Thomas Gainsborough
Thomas Gainsborough was an English portrait and landscape painter.-Suffolk:Thomas Gainsborough was born in Sudbury, Suffolk. He was the youngest son of John Gainsborough, a weaver and maker of woolen goods. At the age of thirteen he impressed his father with his penciling skills so that he let...
amongst his pupils; and he was nephew of John Cart Burgess
John Cart Burgess
John Cart Burgess was an English watercolour painter of flowers and landscapes, and an author of two books on art technique. He was part of the well-known Burgess dynasty of painters who flourished in the 18th and 19th centuries.Burgess was the son of portrait-painter, William Burgess , and the...
(1798-1863), a flower and landscape painter, and Thomas Burgess
Thomas Burgess (painter died 1807)
Thomas Burgess, a landscape painter, exhibited at the Royal Academy from 1802 till 1806. He died, in the following year, in London, at the early age of twenty-three.-References:...
(1784?-1807), landscape painter.
Further reading
- John Bagnold Burgess (Magazine of Art, volume 5 (1882) pp. 133-137.
- Winifred Meynell. The modern school of art, volume 2 (W. R. Howell, c. 1887) pp 55-63.
- BURGESS, JOHN BAGNOLD (Dictionary of National BiographyDictionary of National BiographyThe Dictionary of National Biography is a standard work of reference on notable figures from British history, published from 1885...
, supplement volume 1, 1901).
External links
- J. B. Burgess on Artnet
- Paintings by Burgess (Art Renewal Center - 9 Sep 2010)
- Portraits of Burgess (National Portrait Gallery, London).