power and poetry:
the art of john liNnell
2nd–18th April 2008
The Fine Art Society and Lowell Libson Ltd will present an exhibition of paintings by John Linnell at 148 New Bond Street from 2 to 18 April 2008.
This is the first show of John Linnell’s (1792-1882) work for 25 years who, along with J M W Turner and John Constable, was one of the three major figures in British landscape art in the 19th century. Linnell has been neglected in recent years while Turner and Constable are firmly established in the Pantheon of great artists. His importance is not only as an artist; Linnell was William Blake’s greatest supporter and also a major influence on his future son-in-law, Samuel Palmer.
Among the works for sale will be an important early landscape Evening Storm, Clearing Off 1818-19, The Isle of Wight from Lymington Quay 1825 and The Farmer’s Boy 1830. These major paintings will hang alongside The Storm at Harvest Time 1856 (on loan from a private collection) and will display the depth of the emotional power in Linnell’s work, from the visions of Nature at her most ferocious to absolute pastoral calm. A smaller version of The Storm at Harvest Time will be exhibited for sale.
John Linnell was both poet and dramatist, and his travels in Britain brought continued inspiration. In August 1813 he set out on a month’s tour of Wales, which, he noted, supplied him with material for life. This show will present a group of four watercolours executed on the spot during this trip; Dolwyddelan, North Wales, A landscape in Snowdonia with a tree in the foreground and two Landscapes in North Wales demonstrate Linnell’s amazing facility for recording both detail and vastness in the same work.
John Linnell’s stature in the Victorian art world was reflected in his great commercial success. He amassed a large fortune and supported struggling artists. Ruskin, the leading contemporary art critic, praised his work for his observation and power of expression. The grandeur and romantic spirit in his greatest works is evidence of his extraordinary talent.
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JOHN LINNELL 1792-1882
The Farmer's Boy, 1830
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