James Pearson (painter) facts for kids
James Pearson was a talented glass painter who was born in Dublin, Ireland. He lived and worked in London, England, creating beautiful art on glass. He passed away in 1838.
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Life of a Glass Artist
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James Pearson was born in Dublin around the mid-1700s. He learned his special art of glass painting in Bristol, a city in England. In 1768, he married another talented glass painter named Eglington Margaret Paterson. She was the daughter of Samuel Paterson, a well-known book auctioneer.
Working Together
James and Eglington Margaret Pearson became famous for their art. They showed their work at exhibitions in London between 1775 and 1777. Even though they often worked on their own pieces, they sometimes created art together. For example, in 1775, they made a stained glass copy of a painting called Salutation by Carlo Maratti. Later, in 1793, they worked together on a piece inspired by Guido Reni's Aurora.
The Pearsons used a special method for their glass paintings. They would paint images using colored enamels on plain sheets of glass. Then, they would heat the glass in a very hot oven. This process, called "firing," made the colors stick permanently to the glass.
Famous Exhibitions
Throughout the 1780s and 1790s, the Pearsons regularly showed their art. They held exhibitions at their homes in London, first in Church Street and later in Great Newport Street. They also displayed their work at the new Pantheon in Oxford Street.
The Brazen Serpent
In 1781, James Pearson showed a truly amazing piece at the Pantheon. It was called Brazen Serpent in the Wilderness. This artwork was based on a design by John Hamilton Mortimer. After the exhibition, it was installed in the large east window of Salisbury Cathedral, where you can still see it today.
A newspaper critic from the Morning Chronicle was very impressed. They wrote that the metal parts holding the glass together were completely hidden. This made the whole window look like one single piece of glass, without any lines or divisions.
Important Customers
Many important people bought art from James Pearson. One of his customers was Horace Walpole, a famous writer. Pearson made a window for Walpole's dining room at Strawberry Hill. It showed a cobbler whistling to a bird in a cage.
Another important customer was William Beckford. Pearson created a portrait of Thomas Becket for Beckford's grand home, Fonthill.
Later Works and Life
In 1821, the Pearsons held another exhibition. The catalog for this show was titled Celebrated Cartoons of Raphael, and Various Other Beautiful Specimens, by Mr. and Mrs. Pearson, Appointed Painters to Her Majesty, on Glass, in Vitrified Colours. The paintings inspired by the famous artist Raphael were actually created by James's wife, Eglington Margaret.
James Pearson also made beautiful windows for other important buildings. These included Brasenose College in Oxford and the church of St Botolph, Aldersgate in London. He even painted some designs based on the works of artist James Barry.
Pearson continued to exhibit his art as late as 1821. His wife, Eglington Margaret, passed away in 1823. James Pearson himself died in 1838.
Sources
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Bryan, Michael (1889). "Pearson, James". Bryan's Dictionary of Painters and Engravers (L–Z) (3rd) II. London: George Bell & Sons.
