John Clayton Adams
Encyclopedia
Life
Adams was born the second son of Mr. C. H. Adams in EdmontonEdmonton, London
Edmonton is an area in the east of the London Borough of Enfield, England, north-north-east of Charing Cross. It has a long history as a settlement distinct from Enfield.-Location:...
, Middlesex (now in Greater London
Greater London
Greater London is the top-level administrative division of England covering London. It was created in 1965 and spans the City of London, including Middle Temple and Inner Temple, and the 32 London boroughs. This territory is coterminate with the London Government Office Region and the London...
), and studied art at the Bloomsbury School
Slade School of Fine Art
The Slade School of Fine Art is a world-renownedart school in London, United Kingdom, and a department of University College London...
and later under William Wilthieu Fenn.
He first exhibited 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...
, London, when he was 19, and, throughout the period 1863 to 1893, exhibited 75 pictures there, and 25 canvases at the Royal Society of British Artists
Royal Society of British Artists
The Royal Society of British Artists is a British art body established in 1823 as the Society of British Artists, as an alternative to the Royal Academy.-History:...
.
In 1873 Adams moved to "Brackenhurst", Ewhurst Hill
Ewhurst, Surrey
Ewhurst is a small village in the English county of Surrey.Ewhurst is located between Cranleigh and Shere which is around five miles to the north. Ewhurst has many well-known legends as members of the village, such as Eric Clapton, who is known to play at the Church of England church in Ewhurst...
, near Guildford
Guildford
Guildford is the county town of Surrey. England, as well as the seat for the borough of Guildford and the administrative headquarters of the South East England region...
. Most of his landscapes depict scenes from counties in southern England
Southern England
Southern England, the South and the South of England are imprecise terms used to refer to the southern counties of England bordering the English Midlands. It has a number of different interpretations of its geographic extents. The South is considered by many to be a cultural region with a distinct...
, particularly Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
. However, he also painted a few Scottish works featuring the River Tweed
River Tweed
The River Tweed, or Tweed Water, is long and flows primarily through the Borders region of Great Britain. It rises on Tweedsmuir at Tweed's Well near where the Clyde, draining northwest, and the Annan draining south also rise. "Annan, Tweed and Clyde rise oot the ae hillside" as the Border saying...
.
Work
"Harvesting" was a favourite subject throughout Adam's life and many of his exhibits at the Royal AcademyRoyal 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...
explore this theme. Adams' landscapes are characterised by his broad technique, use of rich colour and sensitive handling of light.
Following the example of Benjamin Williams Leader
Benjamin Williams Leader
Benjamin Williams Leader RA was an English landscape painter.-Early years and training:Leader was born in Worcester as Benjamin Leader Williams, the son, and first child of eleven children, of notable civil engineer Edward Leader Williams and Sarah Whiting...
, George Cole and his son George Vicat Cole
George Vicat Cole
George Vicat Cole , was an English painter.Cole was born at Portsmouth, the son of the landscape painter, George Cole , and in his practice followed his father's lead with marked success. He exhibited at the British Institution at the age of nineteen, and was first represented at the Royal Academy...
, he produced pleasantly naturalistic landscapes, truthful in detail but in general idealized.
Some of his paintings are labeled Clayton Adams and most are signed J. Clayton Adams.
Adam's paintings can be found in many art galleries in the UK including the V & A, London, Sheffield City Art Galleries, Sheffield
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
, and many other regional centres.
Paintings (selected)
- The Gravel Pit (1872)
- Harvest Time (1874)
- The evening sun (1878)
- Flowers of the field (1880)
- After the shower (1886)
- Evening reflection (1887)
- Returning from the Harvest
- A Surrey Lane (1890)
External links
- Adams biography (Sherwin Gallery)