James Ward (English artist)
James Ward | |
---|---|
![]() Self-portrait, 1848 | |
Born | |
Died | 17 November 1859 Cheshunt,Hertfordshire,England | (aged 90)
Nationality | English |
Known for | Painting, Engraving |
Movement | Landscapes,Romanticism |
Spouses | Mary Ann Ward (m.1794)Charlotte Fritche (m.1827) |
Relatives | Henrietta Ward(granddaughter) Leslie Ward(great-grandson) |
Awards | Royal Academician(R.A.) |
Influenced by | George Morland,Rubens |
James WardRA(23 October 1769 – 17 November 1859) was an English painter, particularly of animals, and an engraver.
Biography[edit]
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0d/James_Ward_-_Self-Portrait_-_Google_Art_Project.jpg/170px-James_Ward_-_Self-Portrait_-_Google_Art_Project.jpg)
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/07/James_Ward_-_Venus_Rising_from_her_Couch_-_Google_Art_Project.jpg/220px-James_Ward_-_Venus_Rising_from_her_Couch_-_Google_Art_Project.jpg)
Born in London to James Ward and Rachael Goldsmith, and younger brother ofWilliam Wardthe engraver, James Ward was influenced by many people, but his career is conventionally divided into two periods: until 1803, his single greatest influence was his brother in lawGeorge Morland;from that time, it wasRubens.
From 1810 or so onward, Ward specialised in painting horses within landscapes; slightly later, he turned to very large-scale landscapes, of whichGordale Scar(Tate,London), completed in 1814 or 1815 and depictingGordale Scar(Yorkshire) as an example of thesublime,is considered his masterpiece and a masterpiece ofEnglishRomanticpainting.[1]
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/07/James_Ward_-_Gordale_Scar_%28A_View_of_Gordale%2C_in_the_Manor_of_East_Malham_in_Craven%2C_Yorkshire%2C_the_Property_of_Lord_Ribblesdale%29_-_Google_Art_Project.jpg/220px-James_Ward_-_Gordale_Scar_%28A_View_of_Gordale%2C_in_the_Manor_of_East_Malham_in_Craven%2C_Yorkshire%2C_the_Property_of_Lord_Ribblesdale%29_-_Google_Art_Project.jpg)
Ward devoted much of the period 1815–21 to the painting of a gigantic work titledAllegory of Waterloo(now lost); this neither was much praised nor brought in the revenue Ward had hoped for. The experience may have embittered him, and the deaths of his first wife and a daughter were among other tragedies. Like many artists of the time, Ward sought commissions from wealthy gentry of their favorite horses, their favorite hunting dogs or their children.[2]
One such family that Ward painted and drew repeatedly, and whom he counted among his friends, were theLevettfamily ofWynchnor Park,Staffordshire.One of Ward's best-known portraits was hisTheophilus Levett hunting at Wychnor, Staffordshireof 1817.[3]Another was Ward's 1811 painting entitledThe Reverend Thomas Levett and his favourite dogs, cock-shooting. Ward also painted a group portrait of three Levett children — John, Theophilus and Frances Levett.[4](For the Levetts, see link to the Ward exhibit at the Yale Center for British Art.)[5]
Family[edit]
James Ward was first married to Mary Ann Ward (no known relation) in 1794, and after her death to Charlotte Fritche in 1827 (supposedly a relative of his first wife).
James and Mary Ann Ward had several children including:
- Matilda Louisa Ward, who married the artist John Jackson.
- George Raphael Ward, b. 1798, d. 1879[6]
James Ward was the paternal grandfather of the painterHenrietta Wardand the great-grandfather ofLeslie Ward,theVanity Faircaricaturist.[1]
In 1830, Ward moved toCheshunt(Hertfordshire) with his second wife, but he continued to work, particularly on religious themes. A stroke in 1855 ended his work, and he died in poverty. He is buried atKensal Green Cemetery.[7]His monument was sculpted byJohn Henry Foleyin 1866.[8]
Style[edit]
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c0/The_Deer_Stealer_by_James_Ward.jpeg/220px-The_Deer_Stealer_by_James_Ward.jpeg)
James Ward was one of the outstanding artists of the day, his singular style and great skill set him above most of his contemporaries, markedly influencing the growth of British art. Regarded as one of the great animal painters of his time, James produced history paintings, portraits, landscapes and genre. He started off as an engraver, trained by William, who later engraved much of his work. The partnership of William and James Ward produced the best that English art had to offer, their great technical skill and artistry having led to images that reflect the grace and charm of the era. He was admitted for membership into theRoyal Academyin 1811.[9]
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a7/An_Overshot_Mill_in_Wales_%28Aberdulais%29_-_James_Ward.jpg/220px-An_Overshot_Mill_in_Wales_%28Aberdulais%29_-_James_Ward.jpg)
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/59/James_Ward_-_Marengo_-_WGA25437.jpg/220px-James_Ward_-_Marengo_-_WGA25437.jpg)
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/12/LevettChildren.jpg/170px-LevettChildren.jpg)
One of Ward's best-known paintings,The Deer Stealer,was commissioned in 1823 for the sum of 500 guineas by Ward's patron Theophilus Levett. When the work was finished, Levett pronounced himself delighted with the results, and consequently raised the remuneration to 600 guineas. Subsequently, Ward was said to have been offered 1,000 guineas for the painting by 'a nobleman,' which he declined. The painting now hangs at Tate in London.[10]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^abChisholm, Hugh,ed. (1911). .Encyclopædia Britannica.Vol. 28 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 320.
- ^The Sporting Magazine, or Monthly Calendar of the Transactions of The Turf and The Chase and Every Other Diversion Interesting to the Man of Pleasure Enterprise & Spirit, Vol. 19, New Series, Printed for J. Pittman, London, 1827.1827.Retrieved4 February2012.
- ^"The New York Times, Grace Glueck, July 30, 2004".New York Times.30 July 2004.Retrieved4 February2012.
- ^"Group Portrait of John, Theophilus and Frances Levett, James Ward, November 1811, Christie's".Christies.Retrieved4 February2012.
- ^Babbage, F. (1900).Animal Painters of England from the Year 1650, Walter Gilbey, 1900.Vinton & Company. p.232.Retrieved4 February2012.
theophilus levett.
- ^"Patrick T Nisbett".Familytreemaker.genealogy. 15 August 1996.Retrieved4 February2012.
- ^Paths of Glory.Friends of Kensal Green Cemetery. 1997. p. 103.
- ^Dictionary of British Sculptors 1660-1851 by Rupert Gunnis p.154
- ^"Art Review: Dashing World of Animals as Regal as Their Owners, Grace Glueck, The New York Times, July 30, 2004".The New York Times.30 July 2004.Retrieved4 February2012.
- ^A Great British Collection, sothebys[dead link]
Further reading[edit]
- Beckett, Oliver.The Life and Work of James Ward, RA.Book Guild, 1995.
- Farr, Dennis.James Ward 1769–1859.London: Arts Council, 1960.
- Frankau, Julia.Eighteenth century artists and engravers: William Ward A.R.A., James Ward R.A.: Their Lives and Works.London: Macmillan, 1904.
- Fussell, G. E.James Ward R.A., Animal Painter 1769–1859 and His England.London: Michael Joseph, 1974.ISBN0-7181-1242-3
- Grundy, Reginald.James Ward, R.A.: His Life and Works with a Catalogue of his Engravings and Pictures.London, 1909. (An extra number ofThe Connoisseur.)
- Nygren, Edward J.James Ward's "Gordale Scar": An Essay in the Sublime.London: Tate, 1982.ISBN0-905005-93-7
- Murray, P. & L. (1996).Dictionary of art and artistsLondon: Penguin Books.ISBN0-14-051300-0.p. 557.
- Opening address, The Art of James Ward, Yale Center for British Art, New Haven, Conn., May 20, 2004, curator Angus Trumble[permanent dead link]
External links[edit]
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- "James Ward".Sothebys. Archived fromthe originalon 7 August 2016.Retrieved13 February2012.
- James Ward at the Yale Center for British ArtArchived12 June 2010 at theWayback Machine
- Group Portrait of John, Theophilus and Frances Levett
- 100 artworks by or after James Wardat theArt UKsite
- Scientist of the Day-James WardatLinda Hall Library