John Hamilton Mortimer
Encyclopedia
John Hamilton Mortimer was a British
Neoclassic
al painter known primarily for his romantic paintings and pieces set in Italy
and its countryside, various other works depicting conversations between people, and works drawn in the 1770s portraying war scenes, very similar to those of Salvator Rosa
. Among other things, Mortimer took the place of President of the Society of Artists
in 1774, only several years before his death, at age 39.
Not much is known about Mortimer's family, other than that his father was a customs officer
. He studied at the Duke of Richmond's Academy, while he was young (by 1757). During this time, Mortimer became a close friend of Joseph Wright
, who was a fellow student at the Academy, a friendship which endured throughout Mortimer's life. Mortimer is also known to have had some professional relationship with the artist Samuel Ireland
, a man who was involved with etching Mortimer's work. He began to display his works on a regular basis from the early 1760s onwards, and became an active member of the Society of Artists
. This involvement with the Society of Artists culminated in his rise to presidency of the Society in 1774. In the 1770s, Mortimer was associated with presenting a more masculine, and criminal, presentation of the male form after a period of more effete images. His painting Sir Arthegal, the Knight of Justice, with Talus, the Iron Man is used as an example of this style. In 1775 he married Jane Hurrel, which had an effect on his productivity in regards to his creation of artwork. He died of undocumented causes four years later.
Very few of Mortimer's paintings have endured to the present day, for a variety of reasons. However, some of his work may still be viewed through their engravings.
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
Neoclassic
Neoclassicism
Neoclassicism is the name given to Western movements in the decorative and visual arts, literature, theatre, music, and architecture that draw inspiration from the "classical" art and culture of Ancient Greece or Ancient Rome...
al painter known primarily for his romantic paintings and pieces set in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
and its countryside, various other works depicting conversations between people, and works drawn in the 1770s portraying war scenes, very similar to those of Salvator Rosa
Salvator Rosa
Salvator Rosa was an Italian Baroque painter, poet and printmaker, active in Naples, Rome and Florence. As a painter, he is best known as an "unorthodox and extravagant" and a "perpetual rebel" proto-Romantic.-Early life:...
. Among other things, Mortimer took the place of President of the Society of Artists
Society of Artists
The Society of Artists of Great Britain was founded in London in May 1761 by an association of artists in order to provide a venue for the public exhibition of recent work by living artists, such as was having success in the long-established Paris salons....
in 1774, only several years before his death, at age 39.
Not much is known about Mortimer's family, other than that his father was a customs officer
Customs officer
A customs officer is a law enforcement agent who enforces customs laws, on behalf of a government.-Hong Kong:4 931 posts, of which nine are directorate officers, 3 804 are members of the Customs and Excise Department, 504 are Trade Controls Officers and 614 are staff of the General and Common...
. He studied at the Duke of Richmond's Academy, while he was young (by 1757). During this time, Mortimer became a close friend of Joseph Wright
Joseph Wright of Derby
Joseph Wright , styled Wright of Derby, was an English landscape and portrait painter. He has been acclaimed as "the first professional painter to express the spirit of the Industrial Revolution"....
, who was a fellow student at the Academy, a friendship which endured throughout Mortimer's life. Mortimer is also known to have had some professional relationship with the artist Samuel Ireland
Samuel Ireland
Samuel Ireland , British author and engraver, is best remembered today as the chief victim of the Ireland Shakespeare forgeries created by his son, William Henry Ireland.-Early life:...
, a man who was involved with etching Mortimer's work. He began to display his works on a regular basis from the early 1760s onwards, and became an active member of the Society of Artists
Society of Artists
The Society of Artists of Great Britain was founded in London in May 1761 by an association of artists in order to provide a venue for the public exhibition of recent work by living artists, such as was having success in the long-established Paris salons....
. This involvement with the Society of Artists culminated in his rise to presidency of the Society in 1774. In the 1770s, Mortimer was associated with presenting a more masculine, and criminal, presentation of the male form after a period of more effete images. His painting Sir Arthegal, the Knight of Justice, with Talus, the Iron Man is used as an example of this style. In 1775 he married Jane Hurrel, which had an effect on his productivity in regards to his creation of artwork. He died of undocumented causes four years later.
Very few of Mortimer's paintings have endured to the present day, for a variety of reasons. However, some of his work may still be viewed through their engravings.