William Stott (artist)
Encyclopedia
William Stott-of-Oldham (1857–1900) as he signed his works in order to distinguish himself from Edward Stott, was a British
painter
born in Oldham, Lancashire
, England
. He was the son of an Oldham cotton mill
owner. After studying in Oldham and Manchester
he went to Paris
and studied under the French painter, Jean-Léon Gérôme and achieved rapid success, exhibiting regularly at the Paris Salon
. He was an influential member of the artists' colony at Grez-sur-Loing
which was full of English, Irish, Scottish, and American artists. In 1889 he held a one-man show at the Durand-Ruel Gallery, famous for its showing of the French Impressionists. On his return to England he became a follower and close friend of the painter Whistler, until his painting of Whistler's mistress depicted naked as 'Venus Born of the Sea Foam' caused a rift between them.
For much of his career, Stott painted landscapes, but during the late 1880s began to move towards pictures involving classical figures and allegorical themes, such as ‘The Nymph’ of 1886, and ‘The Birth of Venus’ of 1887. He worked in oils, watercolours and interestingly, pastels a medium appropriate to his atmospheric post Impressionistic style.
As previously noted, from the year 1882, Stott always signed himself ‘of Oldham’ - both to distinguish himself from the then equally famous Edward Stott and to acknowledge his proud Oldham roots.
Walter Richard Sickert described him as ‘one of the two greatest living painters of the world’.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
painter
Painting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
born in Oldham, Lancashire
Oldham
Oldham is a large town in Greater Manchester, England. It lies amid the Pennines on elevated ground between the rivers Irk and Medlock, south-southeast of Rochdale, and northeast of the city of Manchester...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. He was the son of an Oldham cotton mill
Cotton mill
A cotton mill is a factory that houses spinning and weaving machinery. Typically built between 1775 and 1930, mills spun cotton which was an important product during the Industrial Revolution....
owner. After studying in Oldham and Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
he went to 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...
and studied under the French painter, Jean-Léon Gérôme and achieved rapid success, exhibiting regularly at the Paris Salon
Paris Salon
The Salon , or rarely Paris Salon , beginning in 1725 was the official art exhibition of the Académie des Beaux-Arts in Paris, France. Between 1748–1890 it was the greatest annual or biannual art event in the Western world...
. He was an influential member of the artists' colony at Grez-sur-Loing
Grez-sur-Loing
Grez-sur-Loing is a commune in the Seine-et-Marne department in north-central France.-People:It is located 70 km south of Paris and is notable for the artists and musicians who have lived or stayed there...
which was full of English, Irish, Scottish, and American artists. In 1889 he held a one-man show at the Durand-Ruel Gallery, famous for its showing of the French Impressionists. On his return to England he became a follower and close friend of the painter Whistler, until his painting of Whistler's mistress depicted naked as 'Venus Born of the Sea Foam' caused a rift between them.
For much of his career, Stott painted landscapes, but during the late 1880s began to move towards pictures involving classical figures and allegorical themes, such as ‘The Nymph’ of 1886, and ‘The Birth of Venus’ of 1887. He worked in oils, watercolours and interestingly, pastels a medium appropriate to his atmospheric post Impressionistic style.
As previously noted, from the year 1882, Stott always signed himself ‘of Oldham’ - both to distinguish himself from the then equally famous Edward Stott and to acknowledge his proud Oldham roots.
Walter Richard Sickert described him as ‘one of the two greatest living painters of the world’.