John Atkinson Grimshaw

John Atkinson Grimshaw’s atmospheric and meticulously detailed nocturnal landscapes earned him a reputation as a ‘remarkable and imaginative painter’, as described by critic and leading historian on Victorian art Christopher Wood. Grimshaw was deeply influenced by the Pre-Raphaelites, his paintings convey a full spectrum of colours to render a sense of photographic realism.

Born in 1836 in Leeds, Grimshaw was largely self-taught. He initially worked as a clerk for the Great Northern Railway before pursuing painting full-time in the early 1860s. He gained early recognition for his ability to capture the quiet beauty of the natural world, with a focus on seasonal changes and moonlit scenes that evoke tranquillity and mystery.

Grimshaw’s depictions of urban and rural landscapes are lauded for their realism. The artist’s fascination for photography help shaped his practice and aesthetic. He is known to have used a camera obscura or other lenses to project the urban scenery on his canvas. This technique made up for his less desirable skills as a draughtsman and to accurately render perspective. While this method might have caused controversies amongst his contemporaries, arguing that it demonstrated less skill than painting by eye, Grimshaw’s mastery of colour, light and shadow as well as his emotive style are undeniable.

In additional to his nightscapes, Grimshaw painted subjects that occupied many Victorian artists, including fairies, fairy tales and mythological scenes. Each of his paintings can be seen as a study of colour and light. He loved to experiment with prisms and captured the iridescence in his pictures.

John Atkinson Grimshaw died in 1893 of tuberculosis, at the age of 57. Although less celebrated during his lifetime, John Atkinson Grimshaw has since become recognised as a master of Victorian landscape painting, with exhibitions and retrospectives showcasing his legacy.