John Linnell (16 June 1792 – 20 January 1882) is regarded as one of the most successful artists of his time. He was an English landscape and portrait painter.

John Linnell Painter

In 1805, Linnell was admitted as a student to the Royal Academy School where he received a medal for painting, modeling, and engraving. He was soon known to be a prospering portrait painter, but his real passion lay in landscape painting.

In 1840’s he abandoned portrait painting in favor of landscape painting. In the last decade, there was a change in his style. It was characterized by a freedom of brushstroke such as unconnected brush strokes. It was often to be said as incomplete, nebulous and blotchy.

However, it didn’t have much impact on his success at the time. His works were in high demand throughout his life leading to quite a lot of forgeries as well.

John Linnell’s Family

John Linnell was born in Bloomsbury, London to James Linnell. His father was a carver and gilder.

John was brought up in an artistic environment where his artistic talents became quite apparent at an early age.

John Linnell Son

James was able to capitalize on the artwork, setting his son to work producing copies of George Morlan, which he was able to sell.

John Linnell Wife

In 1817 he married Mary Palmer, the eldest daughter of the Chapel Treasurer, Thomas Palmer, he insisted that the marriage is by civil ceremony.

They had nine children, their eldest daughter, Hannah having married to Samuel Palmer on 20th September 1837. Linnell had always supported the match whilst his wife opposed to it from the beginning. He wrote an autobiography around 1863 in a note format on 82 sheets.

John Linnell: Early Life and Career

For almost 30 years, his main income came from portraiture. Although he was more passionate about landscape painting, he undertook the work of portraiture to support his family.

He received numerous commissions from the aristocracy and religious figures. Linnell was a very versatile artist, able to work in a number of mediums.

He worked in both oils and watercolors. In 1821 he painted two miniatures of Princess Sophia Matilda, while in 1830 he painted portraits of various workmen engaged in building his London home as part payment against their wages. In 1831, he published a series of outlines from Michelangelo’s frescoes in the Sistine Chapel.

John Linnell Biography

In 1851, after his relocation to Redhill, Surrey, Linnell began to take a keen interest in writing poetry. Prior to that, he had composed many verses which seemed to have remained confined to the family letter.

He started publishing his poems in a magazine titled “The Bouquet”. The poems were subjected to mainly family incidents, nature, and religious themes.

Famous artworks by John Linnell

• Rev. T. R. Malthus,
• Richard Whately (Archbishop of Dublin),
• Sir Robert Peel,
• William Collins,
• John Varley

Famous Landscapes Include:

• Wheat,

• In Dovedale,

• Hanson Toot.

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