John Vanderbank facts for kids

Quick facts for kids John Vanderbank
Self Portrait (c. 1720)
Born	9 September 1694 London, England
Died	23 December 1739(1739-12-23) (aged 45) London, Great Britain
Nationality	English
Education	Jonathan Richardson, Sir Godfrey Kneller,
Known for	A leading portrait painter of England

John Vanderbank (born September 9, 1694 – died December 23, 1739) was a talented English painter. He was very popular during the reigns of King George I and King George II. Many people believed he could have been the greatest portrait painter of his time. However, his expensive lifestyle often led to money problems. He passed away at the young age of 45.

Early Life and Training

Charles Spencer, 3rd Duke of Marlborough (1719), one of Vanderbank's early works

Lady Grace Carteret, Countess of Dysart by John Vanderbank

George I, Vanderbank's 1726 portrait of the first Hanoverian king

Sir Lionel Tollemache, 4th Earl of Dysart by John Vanderbank

Portrait of Peter Vanderbank (1695-1697) by Godfrey Kneller

John Dodd, of Swallowfield, Berkshire by John Vanderbank

James Brydges, 1st Duke of Chandos (1722), a patron of the arts

Francis Bacon, Viscount of St Alban by John Vanderbank

Anastasia Robinson Seated at the Harpsichord, a print from Vanderbank's 1723 painting

John Bourchier (1710-1759) by John Vanderbank

Mrs John Vanderbank (c. 1730) by Christian Friedrich Zincke

Michael Rysbrack (1728) by John Vanderbank

John Vanderbank was born in London on September 9, 1694. He came from a family of artists. His father, John Vanderbank Senior, was a successful tapestry maker. He supplied tapestries to the royal family. His father was known for bringing a lighter, more informal style to tapestry weaving.

John learned painting from his father first. Then he studied with the painter Jonathan Richardson. In 1711, he became one of the first students at Sir Godfrey Kneller's art academy. This academy was located near his father's workshop. After Sir James Thornhill took over the academy in 1718, John continued his studies there. In 1720, he decided to start his own art academy.

John's younger brother, Moses Vanderbank, was also an artist. However, his paintings are very rare. Moses took over their father's role as the royal tapestry maker in 1727.

Career as a Painter

Portrait Painting Style

Vanderbank was mainly a portrait painter. He also created some paintings with symbolic meanings and worked as an illustrator. He started painting portraits in 1719. One of his first big works was a large painting of Charles Spencer, 3rd Duke of Marlborough on horseback.

He developed a unique painting style. His portraits showed great energy and skill. He was inspired by famous artists like Rubens and Van Dyck. He often copied their works to learn from them. His early portraits were bold and strong, like those of his teacher Kneller. He used bright colors for skin tones, painting thin layers over cooler grey colors. This made the skin look glowing. He also used unpainted areas of grey-green to show mid-tones.

Vanderbank's Academy

In 1720, the art academy where Vanderbank studied closed. So, John Vanderbank, along with the artist Louis Chéron, opened their own academy. They called it 'The Academy for the Improvement of Painters and Sculptors'. It was a place for artists to learn by drawing from live models.

Vanderbank's Academy became very popular. Many future leading artists joined it. However, in 1724, it was discovered that the academy's money manager had taken funds. This, along with Vanderbank's own money problems, led to the academy closing that summer.

Even though it was short-lived, Vanderbank's Academy was very important for English art. It helped introduce life drawing classes for promising students. Artists like William Hogarth and Joseph Highmore attended. Vanderbank was at the center of an important art community. This group helped shape the art, architecture, and music of England in the 1720s and 1730s. For example, Vanderbank painted a portrait of the Duke of Chandos in 1722. The Duke was a major supporter of the arts and music, including the composer Handel.

Vanderbank's expensive habits often caused him financial trouble. Between 1724 and 1729, his brother Moses helped him clear his debts. From 1729, John lived in a house in Holles Street without paying rent. This was thanks to the kindness of Lord Carteret. In the 1730s, Vanderbank's career became successful again. He painted many important people.

Famous Works

Vanderbank's portraits of kings, queens, and important people are in major art galleries worldwide. You can find his works in places like the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the National Gallery of Art, Washington DC, and the National Portrait Gallery. Many of his portraits were made into prints, which were very popular at the time.

Some of his most famous portraits are from the 1720s. These include the Duke of Chandos (1722), two portraits of Sir Isaac Newton (1725 and 1726), and the sculptor John Michael Rysbrack (around 1728). One of his greatest works is considered to be the large portrait of Queen Caroline from 1736.

As a draughtsman and illustrator, Vanderbank showed great energy and creativity. He drew a series of pictures of horses and riders being trained. These drawings were published in 1729 and became very popular. In 1723, he was asked to illustrate the famous book Don Quixote. This project took up much of his time for the rest of his life. The book was published in 1738 with 68 engraved plates based on his designs.

Vanderbank had only one known apprentice, John Robinson. Robinson later became a successful portrait painter himself.

Personal Qualities

People who knew Vanderbank said he was incredibly talented. They said his painting style was bold and masterful. However, they also noted that his careless and extravagant lifestyle held him back. It was believed that only his spending habits kept him from being the greatest painter of his time.

His expensive habits led to debt. In 1724, he briefly went to France to avoid his creditors. Later, he made special arrangements to live in comfort while dealing with his debts. In 1729, his brother Moses sold part of the family business to help pay off John's debts. Despite his challenges, Vanderbank remained a top portrait painter in the 1720s and 1730s. This shows how truly talented he was.

Personal Life

On July 12, 1723, John Vanderbank married Ann Hardaker, an actress. They did not have any children.

Vanderbank died from consumption (a disease now known as tuberculosis) on December 23, 1739. He was 45 years old. He was buried in St Marylebone Parish Church, London. In his will, he left everything to his wife, Anne. Anne Vanderbank passed away in 1750.

Images for kids

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  Sir Isaac Newton by Godfrey Kneller

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  James Thomson, the poet

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  The Honourable Anne Howard, Lady Yonge

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  A Youth of the Lee Family

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  Philip Dormer Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield

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  Francis North, 1st Earl of Guilford

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  Portrait of a Woman in White

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  Sir John Trevelyan

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  The Honourable Mary Howard

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  Sir William Yonge

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  Jane Cornwallis, Mrs Bowater Vernon

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  Algernon Seymour, Earl of Hertford

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  Charles Talbot, 1st Baron Talbot of Hensol

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  Mary Keck, Mrs Thomas Vernon

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  Bowater Vernon

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  Catherine Collingwood, Lady Throckmorton

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  Don Quixote Addressing the Goatherds

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  A Scene from Don Quixote

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  A Young Gentleman Riding a Schooled Horse

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  An Exercise in Haute Ecole

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  Francis Luttrell of Venn

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  Thomas Strickland, Bishop of Namur

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  Edward Tenison

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  A Merchant Captain with Elton's Quadrant

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  Rhoda Apreece, Mrs Francis Blake Delaval

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  Thomas Guy

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  George Venables-Vernon, 1st Baron Vernon of Kinderton

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  Charles Talbot, 1st Baron Talbot of Hensol

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  Sir Pury Cust (style of Vanderbank)

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  Thomas Vernon (possibly by Vanderbank)

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  Samuel Child

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  Alexander Macfarlane

Drawings

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  Portrait of a Standing Lady (1734)

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  Portrait of a Standing Lady (1734)

Engravings and Mezzotints

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  Edmund Waller by Peter Vanderbank

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  Thomas Symonds, mezzotint after Vanderbank

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  1st Lord Talbot

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  John Waugh (bishop)

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  Sir Isaac Newton, mezzotint after Vanderbank

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  Sir Isaac Newton, engraving after Vanderbank

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  Sir Isaac Newton, engraving after Vanderbank

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  Sir Isaac Newton, mezzotint after Vanderbank

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  Sir George Fleming

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  Edmund Gibson, mezzotint after Vanderbank

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  Edmund Gibson, engraving after Vanderbank

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  Anne Vane

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  Nicholas Saunderson, engraving

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  Thomas John Francis Strickland

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  Sir Richard Blackmore