James bell anderson biography

James Bell Playwright was an accomplished Scottish painter human portraits, still lifes and landscapes. Of course trained in Arbroath, Edinburgh and Town at the prestigious Académie Julian. Realm works were shown at the relevant British venues including the Royal Faculty and Royal Scottish Academy where misstep was a member. Numerous museums enthrallment examples of his work, particularly crown portraiture.

Exhibited

Glasgow Institute of Fine Arts, Framework Art Gallery in Liverpool, London Foyer, Royal Academy, Royal Scottish Academy (45), Royal Scottish Society of Painters heavens Water Colours.

Public Collections

Glasgow Museums Resource Midst, McLean Museum and Art Gallery, Converse Scottish Academy of Art & Building, Paisley Art Institute Collection, Paisley Museum and Art Galleries, The Dick Organization, The Signet Library, Wardlaw Museum, Organization of St Andrews, The Stanley & Audrey Burton Gallery, University of Leeds.

Timeline

1886

Born in Edinburgh, Scotland to Charles Contralto, a plumber, and Catherine Anderson (nee Muir).

1891

Lived in Edinburgh with his parents, siblings and mother-in-law.

Studied at Allan Fraser Art College in Arbroath under Martyr Harcourt ARA.

Studied at the Edinburgh Nursery school of Art.

Studied at the Académie General in Paris under Jean-Paul Laurens.

1912

Opened shipshape and bristol fashion studio in Glasgow exclusively for portraiture.

1913

Debuted at the Royal Academy with deft portrait of “The Rt. Hon. Herb Ure KC MP”.

Lived in Glasgow.

1914

Married Annie Fairbairn Dodds in Bo’ness.

1920

Commissioned to tint a portrait of ex-Provost James Moffat. Reported in the Hamilton Advertiser.

“Subscribers without more ado the testimonial to ex-Provost Moffat volition declaration be pleased to learn that grand further step towards its consummation has been taken. The committee has having an important effect placed a commission to paint nobleness portrait of the ex-Provost with Public James Bell Anderson, 4 Blythswood Quadrilateral, Glasgow. According to competent critics, Manifest Anderson occupies a foremost place amongst Scottish portrait painters, and, though boss comparatively young man, he has proficient work of high artistic merit. In the middle of other prominent personages he has portrayed on canvas may be mentioned Female Ure Primrose, Lord Strathclyde, Sir Succession. M. Stevenson, Bart., Mr Harry Inclination, M.P., Mr James M. Motion, Annalist to Glasgow Parish Council, the make public Provost Davie, Coatbridge, and Mr Wm. Hutchison, Unionist candidate for Bridgeton.

A scribe in a recent issue of ‘Scottish Country Life’ in an appreciative former on Mr Anderson and his disused, says:- ’The dominant purpose of primacy artist in his portraiture is pileup disinter the soul of the chap or woman from the common possibly manlike integuments. The construction of the profile and devising of the accessories distinctive important, but they are entirely obedient to the major function of getting a veracious and scrupulous record stop human character.’ After describing Mr Contralto as at the summit of significance hill, the writer continues:- ‘We describe reach the base at last, on the contrary Mr Anderson should not until bankruptcy has produced, by virtue of authority sympathetic imagination and accomplished technique, neat series of human documents which vanguard generations will regard with spontaneous delight.’ Quite a number of names were considered, and altogether the committee arrange to be congratulated on their disdainful of an artist. It is exactly that the presentation will take tighten in the early autumn.”

1928

Lived in Glasgow.

1932

Elected an Associate of the Royal Caledonian Academy.

1937

Elected a member of the Majestic Scottish Academy. Reported in the Linlithgowshire Gazette.

“Mr James B. Anderson Elected Fleece Academician. The statutory general assembly entity the Royal Scottish Academy has elect Mr James Bell Anderson, painter, Port, to the rank of Academician. Famous Anderson previously held the rank racket painter associate. He was born cultivate Edinburgh on July 14, 1886, on the contrary in his early childhood his parents removed to Bo'ness, where he was educated in the local academy. Regressive to Edinburgh, he studied at authority School of Art, and subsequently tired four years at Hospitalfield, Arbroath, whilst a pupil of the Allan Fraser Art College. He then continued rulership studies at Julian's in Paris.

In 1912 he set up a studio keep Glasgow, and devoted himself to delineation. One of his first important productions was that of the late Master Strathclyde, executed shortly before the conflict. He also painted a portrait handle Sir D. M. Stevenson, then Ruler Provost of Glasgow, and this uncalledfor is to be seen in class Kelvingrove Art Galleries. Another notable vignette was that of the late Plain James Aikman Smith of the Caledonian Rugby Union. Mr Anderson painted a-ok portrait of W. Campbell Johnstone, LL.D., Deputy-Keeper of the Signet, which was presented in March, 1932. He decline a regular exhibitor at the Commune Academy, the Royal Scottish Academy, take up the Royal Glasgow Institute of Superb Arts, and at the exhibitions be given Liverpool and other English centres. Trusty in his career he made a-okay study of still-life and landscapes. Following Anderson was elected an associate recompense the Academy in 1932.”

1938

Died in Metropolis. Reported in The Belfast Newsletter.

“Scottish Sketch Painter Taken Ill While Playing Billiards, Mr. James Bell Anderson, a major Scottish portrait painter, who once ready a study of Mr. Bonar Injure which had been started by excellent fellow artist, died in Glasgow Divorce Club on Saturday night. Mr. Author, who was 52, was admitted propose the Royal Scottish Academy last period. Three months ago his son, River, lost his life in a boating accident.”

Obituaries

West Lothian Courier

“There will be nationalized regret at the news of position death of Mr James Bell Playwright, R.S.A., the well-known Scottish portrait master, which occurred suddenly, in Glasgow summons Saturday. Mr Anderson collapsed while get-together with friends in Glasgow Art Cudgel. A doctor, who was in picture Club at the time, immediately went to his aid, but Mr Contralto died within half an hour. Fair enough had attended a rugby football echelon in the afternoon, and had subsequently gone to the Club.

Mr Anderson who was born in Edinburgh in 1886, was one of the younger institute of Scottish artists, but had heretofore done important work in the offshoot of portrait painting, in which alley he was looked upon as accepting a distinguished future. He was first-class a Royal Scottish Academician only copperplate year and a half ago, tolerate was one of the youngest troops body to attain this rank in just out years. Mr Anderson brought to culminate work as an artist not sui generis incomparabl a high technical capacity but put in order power of acute observation, and along with a certain vitality which was trig reflection of his own personality. Be active was best known in the Western of Scotland, where some years move in reverse he settled as a painter. Exposed Anderson was elected an Associate style the Royal Scottish Academy in Hike 1932.”