Richard Hurleston facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Richard Hurlstone
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speculated that this MAY be Hurleston by Joseph Wright
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| Born | 1740s London
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| Died | 1780s Salisbury plain
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| Nationality | British |
| Known for | trip to Italy |
Richard Hurlstone (born in the 1740s, died in the 1780s) was a British artist who painted portraits. He was a student of a famous painter named Joseph Wright of Derby. Richard Hurlstone traveled to Italy with his teacher and Joseph Wright's wife. Sadly, he died young after being struck by lightning when he returned to England.
Early Life and Training
Richard Hurlstone was probably born in 1746 in London. His parents were William and Mary Hurlstone. They lived in an area of London called Lincoln's Inn Fields.
Hurlstone began his art training at the Royal Academy in 1769. He received a special award from the Society of the Arts to help him study. He became a student of the well-known artist Joseph Wright of Derby.
Journey to Italy
In 1773, Hurlstone sailed to Italy with Joseph Wright. Wright's pregnant wife, Ann, and another artist named John Downman also joined them. Their ship had to stop in Nice for three weeks because of bad weather.
They finally arrived in Livorno, Italy, in February 1774. From there, they traveled to Rome. Hurlstone stayed in Rome during 1775 and 1776. While in Italy, he also visited Florence. In 1776, he copied some famous artworks from the Uffizi Gallery in Florence.
Known Paintings
One of Hurlstone's most famous paintings is a portrait of his teacher, Joseph Wright. This painting is now kept at the Derby Museum. Some art experts, like Bendor Grosvenor, believe that another painting in the National Portrait Gallery might be a portrait of Hurlstone painted by Joseph Wright. However, other experts do not agree with this idea.
Hurlstone also painted a small picture called Maria and her Dog. This painting shows a character named Maria from the novels by Laurence Sterne. Maria appears in Sterne's books, Tristam Shandy and A Sentimental Journey Through France and Italy. Hurlstone's painting of Maria was shown to the public in 1780. Today, it is part of the collection at the Derby Museum and Art Gallery.
The Derby Museum also has other paintings by Joseph Wright that were inspired by Laurence Sterne's novels. Joseph Wright painted his first version of The Captive while Hurlstone was still alive. However, Wright did not start his own painting of Maria until 1781. Before Hurlstone left for Italy, he also showed some of his artworks at the Royal Academy.
Death and Legacy
Richard Hurlstone died at a young age. He was riding his horse on Salisbury Plain when he was struck by lightning. Some records say he died in 1777, while others say 1780.
Hurlstone's nephew later owned a newspaper called the Morning Chronicle. His nephew's son, Frederick Yeates Hurlstone, also became a well-known painter.
