John Izard Middleton
Encyclopedia
John Izard Middleton was an American archeologist and artist.
Born just outside of Charleston, South Carolina
, he was the son of Mary Izard and Arthur Middleton
(a signer of the Declaration of Independence
). He was dubbed "the first American Classical Archaeologist" by Charles Eliot Norton
. In 1810 he married Eliza Augusta Falconet, the daughter of a banker in Naples
. Three children were born to the Middletons, but all died young. Middleton died in Paris
in 1849. His remains were returned to the United States for burial at Middleton Place
, South Carolina
.
Admitted to Cambridge University
in 1803, though it is doubtful if he resided, John Middleton spent a good part of his adult life traveling in France and in Italy. While in Italy he was attracted to the remains of ancient sites, particularly those in Latium (modern Lazio). Inspired perhaps by the work of the Frenchman Louis-Charles-Francois Petit-Radel (author of Voyage historique cronographique et philosophique dans le principales villes des l’Italie (Paris, 1815) ; Recherches sur le Monuments Cyclopéens (Paris, 1841)), Middleton made observations and sketches of the sites he visited. Middleton executed the drawings while traveling in Italy during 1808 and 1809 and considered his work an artistic achievement. He attributed more importance to the drawings than the text, but because it appeared during a time of turmoil in Europe, his work received slight attention from contemporaries. Some of the drawings appeared in later works on archaeology without credit to Middleton, notably those of Edward Dodwell
with whom Middleton travelled. He compiled the sketches from his travels in 1808 and 1809 in order to publish as a folio-sized book, Grecian remains in Italy: a description of Cyclopian walls, and of Roman antiquities.
Born just outside of Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
, he was the son of Mary Izard and Arthur Middleton
Arthur Middleton
Arthur Middleton , of Charleston, South Carolina, was a signer of the United States Declaration of Independence....
(a signer of the Declaration of Independence
Declaration of independence
A declaration of independence is an assertion of the independence of an aspiring state or states. Such places are usually declared from part or all of the territory of another nation or failed nation, or are breakaway territories from within the larger state...
). He was dubbed "the first American Classical Archaeologist" by Charles Eliot Norton
Charles Eliot Norton
Charles Eliot Norton, was a leading American author, social critic, and professor of art. He was a militant idealist, a progressive social reformer, and a liberal activist whom many of his contemporaries considered the most cultivated man in the United States.-Biography:Norton was born at...
. In 1810 he married Eliza Augusta Falconet, the daughter of a banker in Naples
Naples
Naples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...
. Three children were born to the Middletons, but all died young. Middleton died in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
in 1849. His remains were returned to the United States for burial at Middleton Place
Middleton Place
Middleton Place is a plantation in Dorchester County, directly across the Ashley River from North Charleston and about northwest of Charleston, in the U.S. state of South Carolina...
, South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
.
Admitted to Cambridge University
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
in 1803, though it is doubtful if he resided, John Middleton spent a good part of his adult life traveling in France and in Italy. While in Italy he was attracted to the remains of ancient sites, particularly those in Latium (modern Lazio). Inspired perhaps by the work of the Frenchman Louis-Charles-Francois Petit-Radel (author of Voyage historique cronographique et philosophique dans le principales villes des l’Italie (Paris, 1815) ; Recherches sur le Monuments Cyclopéens (Paris, 1841)), Middleton made observations and sketches of the sites he visited. Middleton executed the drawings while traveling in Italy during 1808 and 1809 and considered his work an artistic achievement. He attributed more importance to the drawings than the text, but because it appeared during a time of turmoil in Europe, his work received slight attention from contemporaries. Some of the drawings appeared in later works on archaeology without credit to Middleton, notably those of Edward Dodwell
Edward Dodwell
Edward Dodwell was an Irish painter, traveller and a writer on archaeology.Dodwell was born in Ireland and belonged to the same family as Henry Dodwell, the theologian, and was educated at Trinity College, Cambridge....
with whom Middleton travelled. He compiled the sketches from his travels in 1808 and 1809 in order to publish as a folio-sized book, Grecian remains in Italy: a description of Cyclopian walls, and of Roman antiquities.
Publications
- Grecian remains in Italy: a description of Cyclopian walls, and of Roman antiquities. With topographical and picturesque views of ancient Latium. London: Printed for Edward Orme by W. Bulmer and Co., 1812.
- Views and Description of Cyclopean or Pelasgic remains in Greece and Italy , London, 1934.
External links
- John Izard Middleton Sketchbook from the University of South Carolina