John Malchair facts for kids

John Baptist Malchair (around 1730 – 1812) was a talented artist and musician. He was born in Germany but spent most of his life in England. He was known for his beautiful watercolour paintings of landscapes, his skill as a violinist, and his work as a drawing teacher.

Many people in Oxford thought he was a very special person in the 1700s. He also influenced other landscape artists, including the famous John Constable.

Malchair's Early Life and Move to England

John Malchair was born in Cologne, Germany, and was baptised on January 15, 1730. His father, Joannes Malchair, was a watchmaker. John started his music journey early, becoming a singer in the choir at Cologne Cathedral in 1744 when he was just 14.

When he was 24, John moved to Nancy, France. There, he worked as a musician and teacher. This is also where he started painting landscapes. In 1750, he moved to England, which became his home for the rest of his life.

He first worked in London as a violinist and drawing teacher. Later, he moved to Lewes, where he met an artist named Robert Price. Price became a supporter of John's work. Over the next ten years, John traveled around England and Wales, visiting places like Bristol, Sussex, Hereford, and Wales.

Life in Oxford

In 1760, John Malchair became the leader of the Oxford Music Room. This was a very important music venue in Oxford. He married Elizabeth Jenner in London on October 24, 1760, and they settled in Oxford.

In Oxford, John became a respected figure. He taught drawing, played music, and collected different kinds of songs. He lived at 12 Broad Street in the city.

He stopped working at the Music Room in 1792. This happened after his violin was accidentally broken by an orange thrown during a concert!

Later in his life, John Malchair lost his eyesight and became blind. Even so, he continued to collect and create music. His friend, William Crotch, who was an organist, helped him write down his musical ideas. John Malchair passed away in Oxford in 1812 and was buried in St Michael's Church.

Malchair's Music Collection

Besides his work at the Music Room, John Malchair was very interested in traditional folk music. He would listen to and record the melodies he heard around Oxford. This included music from military bands, popular tunes people whistled, and songs from street performers.

He put together at least three books of collected music. One of these books is now kept by The English Folk Dance and Song Society. John's work was very important and helped create William Crotch's 1808 book, Specimens of Various Styles of Music.

Some of John Malchair's own violin and piano pieces still exist. They were written down by Crotch and show how much John was inspired by folk music. His most famous musical creation is a clock-chime he composed for Gloucester Cathedral, which you can still hear today.

Malchair's Art and Teaching

John Malchair was a very skilled watercolour artist. He created hundreds of paintings of English landscapes. His many sketches and watercolours are important because they show historical buildings and places.

For example, many of his paintings show medieval buildings in Oxford that were later torn down after a law was passed in 1771. His art gives us a special look at what these buildings used to look like.

John Malchair was also one of the most important drawing teachers in Britain in the late 1700s. Some of his notable students included Sir George Beaumont, Heneage Finch, William Crotch, and John Austen, who was the brother of the famous writer Jane Austen.