John Atkinson Grimshaw

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  Leeds Art Gallery

  Leeds, United Kingdom

  16 works

  

  Museum detailsMap
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  Tate

  Tate Britain, United Kingdom

  3 works

  

  Museum details
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  Yale Center for British Art

  New Haven, United States

  4 works

  

  Museum detailsMap
• Moonlight Scene near Leeds

  Kirklees Museums and Galleries

  Kirklees, United Kingdom

  6 works

  Museum details
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  Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum

  Palace of Villahermosa, Spain

  3 works

  

  Museum detailsMap
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  Scarborough Art Gallery

  Scarborough, United Kingdom

  5 works

  Museum detailsMap

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• How did john atkinson grimshaw die?+

  John Atkinson Grimshaw died in 1893 at the age of 57.
• John atkinson grimshaw art movement?+

  John Atkinson Grimshaw was influenced by the Pre-Raphaelites.
• What is John Atkinson Grimshaw's most famous work?+

  John Atkinson Grimshaw (1836-1893) is best known for his nocturnal townscapes, often featuring a bright moon. These paintings frequently depict scenes along the River Thames. One of his noted works is *Nightfall down the Thames*, dating to 1880. This oil-on-board work measures 40.2 x 63.1 cm (15 7/8 x 24 7/8 inches) and is held at Leeds City Art Gallery. The painting presents a full moon dominating the riverscape, which casts a green light across the skyline. The reflection of light on the water guides the viewer's eye towards the dome of St Paul's Cathedral in the distance. Grimshaw had a great love for the River Thames, and he captured the mysterious quality of moonlight in his compositions. His contemporary James Abbott McNeill Whistler, known for his own nocturnal scenes, is said to have remarked, "I thought I had invented the Nocturne until I saw Grimmy’s moonlights".
• What should I know about John Atkinson Grimshaw's prints?+

  John Atkinson Grimshaw's prints were not as common as those of some of his contemporaries. Prints connected to the Pre-Raphaelite movement were often reproductive, photographed from paintings, and issued in sepia. The English Picture Publishing Co. published some in 1877, including *The English Boy* (a portrait of Oliver Madox Brown) and *Romeo and Juliet*. These were signed by the artist. The Medici Society later issued a large colour print of Brown’s religious subject, *Christ Washing St Peter’s Feet*, in a limited edition of 500 copies in 1914. However, these were considered poor-quality photographic reproductions. Prints were expected to be large enough to fill a wall and were often framed. Publishers sometimes used appealing titles to attract buyers, and they borrowed titles from popular works. The Printsellers’ Association, which had 126 firms in 1894, indicates the demand for prints during this period. The artist usually decides to limit an edition. Each print in a limited edition is marked with the edition number, the title, and the artist's signature, typically in pencil.
• What style or movement did John Atkinson Grimshaw belong to?+

  John Atkinson Grimshaw's work has associations with the Pre-Raphaelite movement. This artistic group formed in London in 1848. William Holman Hunt, Dante Gabriel Rossetti, and John Everett Millais were its initial members. They wanted to bring English art back to a greater "truth to nature", admiring the comparative simplicity of early 15th-century art. The Pre-Raphaelites were reacting against what they viewed as the pomp and theatricality of the academic art tradition, particularly as exemplified by Raphael. They chose the name Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood out of respect for Raphael's naturalism. They felt that Raphael's followers had misrepresented art by making it overly artificial. John Ruskin initially criticised the brotherhood, but later defended them. Ruskin's support had a considerable effect on the artists. The Pre-Raphaelites favoured subjects from medieval art and literature, such as Arthurian romances, Shakespeare, and Dante Alighieri.
• What techniques or materials did John Atkinson Grimshaw use?+

  John Atkinson Grimshaw is known for his atmospheric paintings, particularly his nocturnal city scenes. Information about his specific techniques and materials is scarce, but we can infer some practices from the period. Like many artists of his time, Grimshaw likely began with sketches. He would have used commercially primed canvases, which became widely available in white during the mid-19th century. Some artists favoured white grounds to lend luminosity to their oil paintings. For colours, Grimshaw probably used a range of pigments available at the time. The Pre-Raphaelites, who influenced many artists, often employed a wet white ground to achieve delicate colouration and tone. This involved applying transparent colours over a fresh white ground, allowing the underlayer to subtly blend with the upper tints. It is probable that Grimshaw experimented with different brushes and application methods to achieve his distinctive style, characterised by smooth surfaces and careful attention to light and shadow.
• What was John Atkinson Grimshaw known for?+

  John Atkinson Grimshaw (1836-1893) was an English painter known for his nocturnal urban scenes, often depicting streets, docks, and riversides under moonlight. His atmospheric works evoke a sense of Victorian-era urban life. Grimshaw's paintings frequently feature gas lighting, wet streets reflecting light, and a hazy atmosphere. These elements create a distinctive mood. He paid close attention to detail in his depictions of architecture and the effects of light on different surfaces. Although Grimshaw's style shares some aesthetic similarities with the Pre-Raphaelites, there is no evidence he was ever a member of the Brotherhood. The Pre-Raphaelites, founded in London in 1848, aimed to return English art to a greater "truth to nature". They admired the art of the early 15th century, before Raphael. The group included Dante Gabriel Rossetti, William Holman Hunt and John Everett Millais.
• When did John Atkinson Grimshaw live and work?+

  John Atkinson Grimshaw was born on 6 September 1836 in Leeds. He died on 13 October 1893, also in Leeds. Largely self-taught, Grimshaw began painting seriously in the 1860s. He became known for his nocturnal scenes of urban areas, particularly in Leeds, Liverpool, and London. These paintings often feature gaslit streets, docks, and rivers, rendered with great attention to atmospheric effects. Grimshaw's early work shows the influence of the Pre-Raphaelites; he explored similar themes of realism and detailed observation. Later in his career, he moved towards a more commercial style, producing sentimental genre scenes and portraits. Despite some critical neglect after his death, Grimshaw's reputation has grown, and he is now recognised as a significant Victorian painter, especially for his atmospheric night scenes.
• Where are john atkinson grimshaw paintings?+

  One of John Atkinson Grimshaw's paintings, Nightfall down the Thames, is located in the British Museum in London.
• Where can i see john atkinson grimshaw paintings?+

  John Atkinson Grimshaw's works can be seen at Leeds Art Gallery, Kirklees Museums and Galleries, Grundy Art Gallery, and 2 other museums worldwide.
• Where can I see John Atkinson Grimshaw's work?+

  John Atkinson Grimshaw's work can be found in several public collections. In London, his painting *Nightfall down the Thames* is held by the British Museum. Other London galleries with works by Grimshaw include the National Gallery, the National Portrait Gallery, the Tate, and the Victoria and Albert Museum. Outside of London, you can find Grimshaw's paintings at the Towneley Hall Art Gallery in Burnley, Lancashire; the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge; the National Museum of Wales in Cardiff; the National Gallery of Scotland and the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art in Edinburgh; the Burrell Collection in Glasgow; the Jersey Museum and Art Gallery in St Helier; and the Leeds City Art Gallery. There are also several museums outside the UK that hold his work. These include the Rijksmuseum Kréller-Müller in Otterlo, Netherlands; the Museum Boymans-van Beuningen in Rotterdam, Netherlands; the Nasjonalgalleriet in Oslo, Norway; the Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga in Lisbon, Portugal; the Muzeul de Arta in Craiova, Romania; the Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow, Russia; and the Hermitage Museum in St Petersburg, Russia.
• Where did john atkinson grimshaw live?+

  John Atkinson Grimshaw lived in Knostrop Old Hall, a manor house outside Leeds. The house appears in several of his paintings.
• Who did John Atkinson Grimshaw marry?+

  John Atkinson Grimshaw married Frances Theodosia Hubbard, often called Fanny. She appears in biographical searches because she was also his cousin.
• What is Knostrop Old Hall in John Atkinson Grimshaw searches?+

  Knostrop Old Hall was Grimshaw's Leeds home and studio setting. It is closely tied to his later life and to searches for paintings or interiors connected with the house.