A Life in Portraiture and Music
William Johnston was a colonial American painter born in Boston, Massachusetts, to Thomas Johnston, a japanner, and Rachel Thwing. Before establishing himself as a portraitist, he began his professional life as a musician, serving as the organist at Boston's Christ Church from 1750 to 1753. His artistic journey eventually led him to Portsmouth, New Hampshire, where he lived from 1759 until 1762, and later to Connecticut. In Connecticut, he became the first painter to work extensively in the colony, serving residents in New London, New Haven, and the Hartford area.
His career eventually took him to Barbados, where he continued to work as a portraitist and received seventy-five pounds a year to play the organ. Johnston died in Bridgetown in April 1772, following a sudden illness.
Artistic Style and Legacy
Johnston's work is characterized by a style similar to his friend John Singleton Copley, often adopting similar poses. His paintings frequently utilize a three-quarter length format, and many of his backgrounds and poses were drawn from English mezzotints of the period. While his style is noted as being more linear than that of Joseph Blackburn, his portraits have historically been so similar to Copley's that at least three of his works were previously misidentified as belonging to the latter.
His notable works include:
Today, his legacy is preserved in several collections, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Connecticut Historical Society, and the Brooklyn Museum of Art.
Kérdések és válaszok
Milyen hangulatokat közvetítenek William Johnston művei?
William Johnston Hangulatok szobája oldala, amely a művész alkotásait hangulat alapján csoportosítja.
Mely művészeti irányzatokban tevékenykedett William Johnston?
William Johnston alkotásainak különböző stílusirányzatai a művész Összes művészeti irányzat oldalán tekinthetők meg, ahol a műalkotások stílus szerint csoportosítva láthatóak.
Hogyan követhetem William Johnston munkásságát év évre bontva?
A művész Műalkotások időrendje oldala William Johnston műveit év évre, időrendi sorrendben mutatja be.
Honnan származik William Johnston?
William Johnston British North America-ban született.
