
Joshua Cristall
- Years
- -
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Sold items
- 3
Biography
Cristall worked in oil and watercolours and was born at Camborne, Cornwall, in 1767 to an educated, seafaring family. Dr. Monro was one of his early friends. His first artistic job was as a china-painter in the potteries. He became a student at the Royal Academy, and was in 1805 a founder member of the Water-colour Society, of which he was also the first president from 1821 until 1832. Cristall was a founder and important member of the Sketching Society.
He toured North Wales in 1803, 1820 and Cumberland in 1831. His early work, usually of classical figures in landscapes developed into watercolours of rural labourers treated with an unusual realism. His sketches from nature have a pleasing freshness of touch.
In 1812 he married a French widow. He continued to devote most of his time to painting, and after 1821, was almost always sketching plein air in the Wye Valley where he lived for seventeen years in Goodrich, Herefordshire, returning to London after his wife's death. He died in London and was buried next to his wife at Goodrich, where there is a monument to his memory. A three days' sale of his studio was held at Christie & Manson's in April 1848.
His work can be found in most major drawings collections including the British Museum, the Yale Center for British Art and the V&A.
Additional Information
British Museum
V&A
Yale Center for British Art
