William James Müller
Encyclopedia
William James Müller English
landscape and figure painter
, the best-known artist of the Bristol School
.
, the son of J. S. Müller, a Prussia
n who was a native of Danzig, curator of the Bristol museum.
He first studied painting under J. B. Pyne
. His early subjects deal mainly with the scenery of Gloucestershire
and Wales
, and he learned much from his study of Claude
, Ruysdael, and earlier landscape-painters. In 1833 he figured for the first time in the Royal Academy
with his “Destruction of Old London Bridge-Morning,” and next year he made a tour through France
, Switzerland
and Italy
.
Four years later he visited Athens
, extending his travels to Egypt
, and in the sketches executed during this period and the paintings produced from them his power and individuality are apparent. Among the results were two landscapes, “Athens from the Road to Marathon,” and “Memnon, or Ruins at Gornou in Egypt at Sunset.” Shortly after his return, he left Bristol and settled in London, where he exhibited regularly. In 1840 he again visited France, where he executed a series of sketches of Renaissance architecture
, twenty-five of which were lithographed and published in 1841, in a folio entitled “The Age of Francis I. of France.”
In 1843 he accompanied, at his own request and his own charges, the government
expedition under Charles Fellows
to Lycia
in quest of the Xanthian marbles, where he made a number of masterly sketches. The sketches were exhibited in London. The artist received numerous commissions for finished pictures, but his ill health prevented him from fulfilling them. He died at Bristol on 8 September 1845. His works commanded high prices after his death.
Müller is buried in the Unitarian burial ground, Brunswick Cemetery, off Brunswick Square, Bristol. His grave is marked by a simple polished black stone slab inscribed "Sacred to the memory of William James Muller who died Sep 8th 1845 Aged 35 years" His age stated as 35 years is contrary to the actual burial records which record his age as 33. It seems that the current tomb stone may be relatively modern, as the grave was recorded as being unmarked on a 1970's survey. A bust of the painter is located at the entrance to the cloister in Bristol Cathedral.
The print room of the British Museum
possesses, through the bequest of John Henderson
, a rich collection of Müller's sketches. Biographies of Müller have been written by Solly (1875), Bunt (1948) and Greenacre and Stoddard (1991).
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...
landscape and figure 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...
, the best-known artist of the Bristol School
Bristol School
The Bristol School is a term applied retrospectively to describe the informal association and works of a group of artists working in Bristol, England, in the early 19th century. It was mainly active in the 1820s, although the origins and influences of the school have been traced over the...
.
Biography
Müller was born at BristolBristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
, the son of J. S. Müller, a Prussia
Prussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
n who was a native of Danzig, curator of the Bristol museum.
He first studied painting under J. B. Pyne
James Baker Pyne
-External links:*...
. His early subjects deal mainly with the scenery of Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire is a county in South West England. The county comprises part of the Cotswold Hills, part of the flat fertile valley of the River Severn, and the entire Forest of Dean....
and Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
, and he learned much from his study of Claude
Claude Lorrain
Claude Lorrain, , traditionally just Claude in English Claude Lorrain, , traditionally just Claude in English (also Claude Gellée, his real name, or in French Claude Gellée, , dit le Lorrain) Claude Lorrain, , traditionally just Claude in English (also Claude Gellée, his real name, or in French...
, Ruysdael, and earlier landscape-painters. In 1833 he figured for the first time in the Royal Academy
Royal Academy
The Royal Academy of Arts is an art institution based in Burlington House on Piccadilly, London. The Royal Academy of Arts has a unique position in being an independent, privately funded institution led by eminent artists and architects whose purpose is to promote the creation, enjoyment and...
with his “Destruction of Old London Bridge-Morning,” and next year he made a tour through France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
and 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...
.
Four years later he visited Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
, extending his travels to Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
, and in the sketches executed during this period and the paintings produced from them his power and individuality are apparent. Among the results were two landscapes, “Athens from the Road to Marathon,” and “Memnon, or Ruins at Gornou in Egypt at Sunset.” Shortly after his return, he left Bristol and settled in London, where he exhibited regularly. In 1840 he again visited France, where he executed a series of sketches of Renaissance architecture
Renaissance architecture
Renaissance architecture is the architecture of the period between the early 15th and early 17th centuries in different regions of Europe, demonstrating a conscious revival and development of certain elements of ancient Greek and Roman thought and material culture. Stylistically, Renaissance...
, twenty-five of which were lithographed and published in 1841, in a folio entitled “The Age of Francis I. of France.”
In 1843 he accompanied, at his own request and his own charges, the government
expedition under Charles Fellows
Charles Fellows
Sir Charles Fellows was a British archaeologist.-Bigography:Fellows was born at Nottingham, where his family had an estate. When fourteen he drew sketches to illustrate a trip to the ruins of Newstead Abbey, which afterwards appeared on the title-page of Moore's Life of Lord Byron...
to Lycia
Lycia
Lycia Lycian: Trm̃mis; ) was a region in Anatolia in what are now the provinces of Antalya and Muğla on the southern coast of Turkey. It was a federation of ancient cities in the region and later a province of the Roman Empire...
in quest of the Xanthian marbles, where he made a number of masterly sketches. The sketches were exhibited in London. The artist received numerous commissions for finished pictures, but his ill health prevented him from fulfilling them. He died at Bristol on 8 September 1845. His works commanded high prices after his death.
Müller is buried in the Unitarian burial ground, Brunswick Cemetery, off Brunswick Square, Bristol. His grave is marked by a simple polished black stone slab inscribed "Sacred to the memory of William James Muller who died Sep 8th 1845 Aged 35 years" His age stated as 35 years is contrary to the actual burial records which record his age as 33. It seems that the current tomb stone may be relatively modern, as the grave was recorded as being unmarked on a 1970's survey. A bust of the painter is located at the entrance to the cloister in Bristol Cathedral.
The print room of the British Museum
British Museum
The British Museum is a museum of human history and culture in London. Its collections, which number more than seven million objects, are amongst the largest and most comprehensive in the world and originate from all continents, illustrating and documenting the story of human culture from its...
possesses, through the bequest of John Henderson
John Henderson (collector)
-Life:Born in Adelphi Terrace, London, he was son of John Henderson and Georgiana Jane, only child of George Keate, F.R.S. His father, an amateur artist, was an early patron of Thomas Girtin and J. M. W. Turner, who frequently worked together in his house...
, a rich collection of Müller's sketches. Biographies of Müller have been written by Solly (1875), Bunt (1948) and Greenacre and Stoddard (1991).
Publications
- William James Müller, Muller's sketches of the age of Francis the First, 26 large and fine tinted drawings on stone of splendid Architecture and Picturesque Old Buildings in France (H. Graves, 1841)
See also
- Royal West of England AcademyRoyal West of England AcademyThe Royal West of England Academy is an art gallery where Queens Road meets Whiteladies Road, in Bristol, England.- History :The Academy was the first art gallery in Bristol. Its foundation was financed by a bequest of £2000 in the will of Ellen Sharples in 1849, and a group of artists in...