John Hollins (artist)
Encyclopedia
John Hollins was a portrait painter who was based in London. His works are at the National Portrait Gallery. Hollins' painting planning a record breaking balloon trip includes the three balloonists Robert Hollond
, Thomas Monck Mason
and Charles Green
and an image of Hollins himself.
on 1 June 1798 to an artistic family. His father, Thomas, was a glass painter; his cousin was Peter Hollins
a notable sculptor and his uncle William was an architect and sculptor.
Hollins moved to London for a few years in his mid twenties earning his living creating portraits in oils and the occasional miniature. In 1825 he became friends with the future Lord Wenlock, then Sir Robert Lawley
. Hollins trained further in Italy and established a lifelong relationship with David Wilkie
. Hollins did not return to his London business until 1827. His works were successfully entered for exhibitions at the British Institution
and the Royal Academy of Art.
In 1834, Hollins made his last journey abroad on a confidential visit to Italy. He was involved in work resulting from the last wishes of Lord Wenlock.
Hollins was honoured in 1842 when the Royal academy decided to unusually appoint two portrait artists as associates and Francis Grant
and Hollins were appointed. As an associate he was able to commend premium prices. He did some models and landscapes but the portraits were his main occupation.
Hollins never married. Possibly the most remarkable painting also included his own self portrait. The painting recorded a planning meeting before an attempt on the distance record for travelling in a balloon. The record established stood for over thirty years after Hollins' death. Charles Green
, a professional balloonist and aeronaut planned the record attempt which set out from Vauxhall Gardens
in London on 7 November 1836 at 1:30 p.m. The journey was paid for by Robert Hollond
who served as the Whig member of parliament for Hastings
.
The balloon made remarkable progress for the nineteenth century and crossed the channel the same day. The balloon returned to earth in Germany establishing a distance record that was to remain unbroken until the twentieth century (1905). In eighteen hours they travelled 500 miles to their landing at Weilburg
. There are six people in the painting, three of them are those who made the journey, Hollond, Green and Monck Mason
; the others were Walter Prideaux
, William Milbourne James
(who became an eminent judge) and Hollins himself.
Hollins died at the age of 57 and was buried at Kensal Green cemetery
.
Robert Hollond
Robert Hollond was an English balloonist and politician. He funded and then took part in establishing a distance ballooning record with Thomas Monck Mason and Charles Green. He later served as a Whig politician representing the constituency of Hastings.-Biography:Hollond was born in 1808 to...
, Thomas Monck Mason
Thomas Monck Mason
Thomas Monck Mason was a flute player, writer and balloon aeronaut. He wrote concerning the balloon trip and on theology. He was impoverished after renting London theatres to stage opera.-Biography:...
and Charles Green
Charles Green (balloonist)
Charles Green was the United Kingdom's most famous balloonist of the 19th century. He experimented with coal gas as a cheaper and more readily available alternative to hydrogen for lifting power. His first ascent was in a coal gas balloon on 19 July 1821. He became a professional balloonist and...
and an image of Hollins himself.
Biography
Hollins was born in BirminghamBirmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
on 1 June 1798 to an artistic family. His father, Thomas, was a glass painter; his cousin was Peter Hollins
Peter Hollins
Peter Hollins was an English sculptor.Born in Birmingham, the son of the architect and sculptor William Hollins, Hollins studied drawing under Vincent Barber and sculpture in his father's studio before moving to London to work for Francis Chantrey in 1822...
a notable sculptor and his uncle William was an architect and sculptor.
Hollins moved to London for a few years in his mid twenties earning his living creating portraits in oils and the occasional miniature. In 1825 he became friends with the future Lord Wenlock, then Sir Robert Lawley
Robert Lawley, 1st Baron Wenlock
Robert Lawley, 1st Baron Wenlock was a British landowner and politician, the eldest son of Sir Robert Lawley, 5th Baronet and Jane Thompson.Attended the military school at Brienne, France, at the time Napoleon Bonaparte was there....
. Hollins trained further in Italy and established a lifelong relationship with David Wilkie
David Wilkie (artist)
Sir David Wilkie was a Scottish painter.- Early life :Wilkie was the son of the parish minister of Cults in Fife. He developed a love for art at an early age. In 1799, after he had attended school at Pitlessie, Kettle and Cupar, his father reluctantly agreed to his becoming a painter...
. Hollins did not return to his London business until 1827. His works were successfully entered for exhibitions 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 the Royal Academy of Art.
In 1834, Hollins made his last journey abroad on a confidential visit to Italy. He was involved in work resulting from the last wishes of Lord Wenlock.
Hollins was honoured in 1842 when the Royal academy decided to unusually appoint two portrait artists as associates and Francis Grant
Francis Grant
Francis or Frank Grant may refer to:*Sir Francis Grant , Scottish artist*Sir Francis Grant , Scottish Officer of Arms*Frank Grant , baseball player...
and Hollins were appointed. As an associate he was able to commend premium prices. He did some models and landscapes but the portraits were his main occupation.
Hollins never married. Possibly the most remarkable painting also included his own self portrait. The painting recorded a planning meeting before an attempt on the distance record for travelling in a balloon. The record established stood for over thirty years after Hollins' death. Charles Green
Charles Green (balloonist)
Charles Green was the United Kingdom's most famous balloonist of the 19th century. He experimented with coal gas as a cheaper and more readily available alternative to hydrogen for lifting power. His first ascent was in a coal gas balloon on 19 July 1821. He became a professional balloonist and...
, a professional balloonist and aeronaut planned the record attempt which set out from Vauxhall Gardens
Vauxhall Gardens
Vauxhall Gardens was a pleasure garden, one of the leading venues for public entertainment in London, England from the mid 17th century to the mid 19th century. Originally known as New Spring Gardens, the site was believed to have opened before the Restoration of 1660 with the first mention being...
in London on 7 November 1836 at 1:30 p.m. The journey was paid for by Robert Hollond
Robert Hollond
Robert Hollond was an English balloonist and politician. He funded and then took part in establishing a distance ballooning record with Thomas Monck Mason and Charles Green. He later served as a Whig politician representing the constituency of Hastings.-Biography:Hollond was born in 1808 to...
who served as the Whig member of parliament for Hastings
Hastings (UK Parliament constituency)
Hastings was a parliamentary constituency in Sussex. It returned two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom until the 1885 general election, when its representation was reduced to one member....
.
The balloon made remarkable progress for the nineteenth century and crossed the channel the same day. The balloon returned to earth in Germany establishing a distance record that was to remain unbroken until the twentieth century (1905). In eighteen hours they travelled 500 miles to their landing at Weilburg
Weilburg
Weilburg is, with just under 14,000 inhabitants, the third biggest town in Limburg-Weilburg district in Hesse, Germany, after Limburg an der Lahn and Bad Camberg.- Location :...
. There are six people in the painting, three of them are those who made the journey, Hollond, Green and Monck Mason
Thomas Monck Mason
Thomas Monck Mason was a flute player, writer and balloon aeronaut. He wrote concerning the balloon trip and on theology. He was impoverished after renting London theatres to stage opera.-Biography:...
; the others were Walter Prideaux
Walter Prideaux
Walter Prideaux was a poet and lawyer. Prideuax rose to be clerk to Goldsmiths' Hall.-Biography:Walter Prideaux was born 15 April 1806 to Sarah and Walter Prideaux. He was born at Bearscombe near Kingbridge and Loddiswell...
, William Milbourne James
William Milbourne James (judge)
Sir William Milbourne James was a British judge and Privy Councillor.-Life history:James was born in Merthyr Tydfil, Wales in 1807 to Christopher James a prosperous provision merchant. His cousin was Charles Herbert James, who later became Member of Parliament for Merthyr Tydfil...
(who became an eminent judge) and Hollins himself.
Hollins died at the age of 57 and was buried at Kensal Green cemetery
Kensal Green Cemetery
Kensal Green Cemetery is a cemetery in Kensal Green, in the west of London, England. It was immortalised in the lines of G. K. Chesterton's poem The Rolling English Road from his book The Flying Inn: "For there is good news yet to hear and fine things to be seen; Before we go to Paradise by way of...
.
Works include
- Portrait of Baron TenterdenCharles Abbott, 1st Baron TenterdenCharles Abbott, 1st Baron Tenterden PC SL , was a British barrister and judge who served as Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench between 1818 and 1832. Born in obscure circumstances to a barber and his wife in Canterbury, Abbott was educated initially at a dame school before moving to The King's...
- A Consultation prior to the Aerial Voyage to Weilburgh, 1836
- Incendio de Borgo, after RaphaelRaphaelRaffaello Sanzio da Urbino , better known simply as Raphael, was an Italian painter and architect of the High Renaissance. His work is admired for its clarity of form and ease of composition and for its visual achievement of the Neoplatonic ideal of human grandeur...