Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1822-1976 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
1 box
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Born, Haydon Bridge, Northumberland, 1789; apprenticed to a Newcastle coach-painter, 1804; ran away after a dispute over wages; apprenticed to a Newcastle china-painter, Boniface Musso; moved to London and supported himself painting on china and glass whilst studying perspective and architecture; sent the Royal Academy his first pictures, 1812; became an opponent of the Royal Academy after becoming aggrieved over the hanging of his pictures in 1814 and 1816, but continued to contribute to their exhibitions; appointed historical painter to Princess Charlotte and Prince Leopold, 1817; exhibited at the British Institution, 1819-1821, including 'Belshazzar's Feast'; joined the Royal Society of British Artists on its foundation and exhibited there, 1824-1831,1837-1838; exhibited 'The Fall of Nineveh' at Brussels, 1833, bought by the Belgian government; elected a member of the Belgian Academy and awarded the order of Leopold by the King of Belgium; quarrelled with the British Institution, 1836; exhibited many works at the Royal Academy, 1837-1852, including many landscapes in water-colours; drew illustrations (with Westall) to Milton's Paradise Lost; worked on plans for improving London, including water supply and recycling of sewerage, 1827-1853; died, 1854.
Repository
Archival history
GB 0370 JM 1822-1976 Collection (fonds) 1 box Martin , John , 1789-1854 , painter
Born, Haydon Bridge, Northumberland, 1789; apprenticed to a Newcastle coach-painter, 1804; ran away after a dispute over wages; apprenticed to a Newcastle china-painter, Boniface Musso; moved to London and supported himself painting on china and glass whilst studying perspective and architecture; sent the Royal Academy his first pictures, 1812; became an opponent of the Royal Academy after becoming aggrieved over the hanging of his pictures in 1814 and 1816, but continued to contribute to their exhibitions; appointed historical painter to Princess Charlotte and Prince Leopold, 1817; exhibited at the British Institution, 1819-1821, including 'Belshazzar's Feast'; joined the Royal Society of British Artists on its foundation and exhibited there, 1824-1831,1837-1838; exhibited 'The Fall of Nineveh' at Brussels, 1833, bought by the Belgian government; elected a member of the Belgian Academy and awarded the order of Leopold by the King of Belgium; quarrelled with the British Institution, 1836; exhibited many works at the Royal Academy, 1837-1852, including many landscapes in water-colours; drew illustrations (with Westall) to Milton's Paradise Lost; worked on plans for improving London, including water supply and recycling of sewerage, 1827-1853; died, 1854.
Acquired by Westfield College.
Papers of and relating to John Martin, 1822-1976, comprising his letters, 1822-1853, relating to exhibitions of his work at the Egyptian Hall in Piccadilly, London, 1822, Society of British Artists, 1833, prices of his pictures, improvement schemes for London, to various correspondents including William Bullock, Sir Henry George Grey, John Thomas Smith, Sir Charles Wheatstone, John Prescott Knight, Edward William Cooke, William Jerdon; prints of paintings and mezzotints by Martin, [1829-1844], portraits of John Martin, [1822, 1832]; review of an exhibition of his work from the Times, 1970; exhibition catalogue, 1976.
The correspondence is arranged chronologically.
The Archives are available for access in the Archives Reading Room located on the 2nd Floor of the Mile End Library. The Archives Reading Room is open Mondays to Fridays 9am-4pm by appointment only. Contact the Archives for more information: Archives, Main Library QMUL, 328 Mile End Rd, London E1 4NS, telephone: 020 7882 3873, email: archives@qmul.ac.uk. For more information about the Archives see the website: www.library.qmul.ac.uk/archives.
Photocopying at the discretion of the Archivist. Applications for copies for research or publication should be made to the Archivist: Main Library QMUL, 328 Mile End Rd, London E1 4NS, telephone: 020 7882 7873, email: archives@qmul.ac.uk.
English
A draft list of the correspondence is available at the Library.
John Martin Thomas Balston (Gerald Duckworth and Co Ltd, 1947); The Art of John Martin William Feaver (Clarendon Press, 1975); John Martin, Painter Mary L Pendered (Hunt and Blackett, 1923).
Sources: Dictionary of National Biography CD-ROM (Oxford University Press, 1995); Historical Manuscripts Commission On-line National Register of Archives; British Library Public Catalogue On-line. Compiled by Julie Tancell as part of the RSLP AIM25 project. National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal Place and Corporate Names 1997. May 2001 Bullock , William , fl 1808-1827 , antiquary and naturalist Cooke , Edward William , 1811-1880 , marine painter England Environmental engineering Europe Exhibitions Grey , Henry George , 1802-1894 , 3rd Earl Grey , statesman x Grey , 3rd Earl Illustrations Jerdan , William , 1782-1869 , journalist and antiquary Knight , John Prescott , 1803-1881 , painter London Piccadilly Sanitation Smith , John Thomas , 1766-1833 , topographical draughtsman and antiquary Society of British Artists UK Urban development Urban planning Visual materials Western Europe Westminster Wheatstone , Sir , Charles , 1802-1875 , Knight , physicist City of Westminster Town and country planning
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Acquired by Westfield College.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Papers of and relating to John Martin, 1822-1976, comprising his letters, 1822-1853, relating to exhibitions of his work at the Egyptian Hall in Piccadilly, London, 1822, Society of British Artists, 1833, prices of his pictures, improvement schemes for London, to various correspondents including William Bullock, Sir Henry George Grey, John Thomas Smith, Sir Charles Wheatstone, John Prescott Knight, Edward William Cooke, William Jerdon; prints of paintings and mezzotints by Martin, [1829-1844], portraits of John Martin, [1822, 1832]; review of an exhibition of his work from the Times, 1970; exhibition catalogue, 1976.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
The correspondence is arranged chronologically.
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
The Archives are available for access in the Archives Reading Room located on the 2nd Floor of the Mile End Library. The Archives Reading Room is open Mondays to Fridays 9am-4pm by appointment only. Contact the Archives for more information: Archives, Main Library QMUL, 328 Mile End Rd, London E1 4NS, telephone: 020 7882 3873, email: archives@qmul.ac.uk. For more information about the Archives see the website: www.library.qmul.ac.uk/archives.
Conditions governing reproduction
Photocopying at the discretion of the Archivist. Applications for copies for research or publication should be made to the Archivist: Main Library QMUL, 328 Mile End Rd, London E1 4NS, telephone: 020 7882 7873, email: archives@qmul.ac.uk.
Language of material
- English
Script of material
- Latin
Language and script notes
English
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
A draft list of the correspondence is available at the Library.
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Publication note
Notes area
Note
Alternative identifier(s)
Access points
Place access points
Name access points
Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal Place and Corporate Names 1997.
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation revision deletion
Language(s)
- English