Student Artwork Guide
Copyright This work is in the public domain. James Stark died in 1859; copyright lasts 70 years after the artist’s death, so it ended in 1929.
In context
A Burn Side — James Stark
Row above: the years. Row below: how old the artist was at the start and at the end of each span — 0 at birth, 65 at death.
Shaded: the lifetime of James Stark (1794–1859) every dated painting, decade by decade
This record has no exact year on file — using the artist's lifetime and the work's style, what decade would you guess?
Pick one work above: name two things it shares with this one, and one thing that's different.
More works to set beside this one: topimpressionists.com/en/art/similar/james-stark-a-burn-side-9CW6NP-en/
Measured from the image
Main colour
Phthalo Green #201a0d
Catalogued palette
These colours inside the artist’s whole palette Find other paintings by colour
The ten leading countries
Find the three darkest countries on the map. Is the museum that keeps this painting in any of them? Write down one reason people far away might look at it.
Together these works take 76.2% of all the attention this artist's paintings received over the last twelve months. The catalogue holds 135 works by this artist, of which 27 were looked at at least once. This painting ranks 14 of them, with 3.3% of that attention. The same counts, month by month
Bars measure attention, not quality. Pick the work at the top and this one: name one thing that might make a painting famous beyond how well it is painted.
Artist and museum
Born in Norwich, United Kingdom
Born: Norwich, United Kingdom (1794)
Died: 1859
James Stark was a prominent English landscape painter and a key member of the Norwich School of painters. His career spanned several decades, marked by periods of both acclaim and financial struggle. He served as Vice-President (1828) and President (1829) of the Norwich Society of Artists, demonstrating his standing within the artistic community.
Family Background: Born in Norwich, Stark was the youngest son of Michael Stark, a dye manufacturer known for inventing 'Norwich red'. His father's background included literary and scientific pursuits.
Education & Apprenticeship: He attended Norwich School and formed a friendship with John Berney Crome. In 1811, he began an apprenticeship under the elder John Crome, a pivotal influence on his artistic development.
Early Exhibitions: Stark’s talent was evident early; he exhibited works in London as early as 1811 and at the British Institution between 1814 and 1818.
London Period & William Collins: Following his apprenticeship, Stark moved to London in 1814 where he befriended artist William Collins, who influenced his style. He studied at the Royal Academy from 1817.
Return to Norwich and River Scenes: Ill health prompted a return to Norwich around 1819, where he resided for nearly twenty years. This period saw him focus on depicting the Norfolk countryside, culminating in the publication of Scenery of the Rivers of Norfolk (1834), a collection of etchings based on his paintings.
Dutch Masters Influence: Stark’s early works often reflected a strong influence from 17th-century Dutch masters, particularly in their depiction of woodland scenes and atmospheric detail.
Evolution of Style: His work during the 1830s showed a shift towards greater freshness and appeal to critics, moving beyond simple imitation of earlier styles.
Scenery of the Rivers of Norfolk (1834): This ambitious project showcased Stark’s skill as both a painter and an engraver, though it proved financially unsuccessful despite critical acclaim.
Norwich School Contributions: As a leading member of the Norwich School, Stark helped define its distinctive style – characterized by realistic depictions of the Norfolk landscape and a focus on capturing atmospheric effects.
Exhibitions: He consistently exhibited his work at prestigious venues like the Royal Academy and the British Institution throughout his career.
Norwich School Legacy: Stark’s contribution to the Norwich School cemented its place in British art history, demonstrating a regional artistic movement that valued observation and authentic representation of the local landscape.
Influence on Later Artists: His work influenced subsequent generations of landscape painters who sought to capture the beauty and character of the English countryside.
Preservation of Norfolk’s Landscape: Stark's paintings serve as valuable historical records, documenting the appearance of Norfolk’s rivers and landscapes in the 19th century.
topimpressionists.com/en/art/download/james-stark-a-burn-side-9CW6NP-en/
Look closely
A Burn Side — James Stark
Answer in your own words. There are no wrong answers here — only answers you can explain.
Write a short paragraph about this artwork. Use the facts from the earlier parts of this guide, and your answers above.
James Stark is also known as Arthur James Stark.
"A Burn Side" is available as a high-resolution digital image download, purchased directly on its Digital Image page.
The colors of "A Burn Side" form an earthy palette. This classification describes the dominant color families.