John Stirling
| John Stirling MA | |||||||||
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| Born | 1828 | ||||||||
| Died | 1870 | ||||||||
| Residence |
Langham Chambers, Portland Place [1866] 1 Robert Street, Adelphi [1869] | ||||||||
| Occupation | artist | ||||||||
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Contents
[hide]Notes
Office Notes
House Notes
proposed 1866.06.05; same day: An application communicated by Mr Bendyshe, for the presentation by the Society of a set of its publications to Mr J.F. Robertson FASL, was not granted. An application made by Mr Bendyshe for the election of the above Mr John Stirling was negative.
A5/ 87 Thomas Bendyshe to J. Fred. Collingwood, 19 June 1866 – encloses letter to be laid before Council on John Stirling’s election
See also John Forbes Robertson's letter A5/255 Ibid., Mountfort House, Barnsbury Square, N to Thomas Bendyshe (see 72 for details), 18 June 1866 – will introduce a new member if the ASL will send a complete set of its publications - this is likely to be John Stirling
Notes From Elsewhere
a Scottish painter who lived in London
Born: 26 Apr 1829, Kilsyth, Stirling, Scotland Christened: 26 Apr 1829, Kilsyth, Stirling, Scotland Marriage: Moffat, Helen Walker [35838] on 8 Oct 1860 in Kilsyth, Stirling, Scotland Died: 2 Sep 1871, Kilsyth, Stirling, Scotland at age 42
From Roger A. Fleischman, MD, PhD: What you will find on the Internet for John Stirling is a bit incorrect due to a lack of prior research. His dates at many web sites are given as 1820-1871 but in fact these dates seem to have been guesses made by art dealers and auction houses interested in selling some of his artworks for the maximum profit.
John Stirling was born June 23, 1828 in Peterculter, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, the oldest child of Rev. John Stirling (1785 - Oct 5, 1839) and Hannah Fowler (1797 - Dec 4, 1862). Following the early death of his father, the young artist can be found at age 22 listed in the 1851 Scottish Census as an "artist-painter" and similarly in an 1853 Aberdeen city directory as an artist living at 5 Broadford bank, Kingsland-place, the address used to submit his first paintings to the Royal Academy. Over the next several years in Aberdeen, he continues to be listed as an artist, often at same address as his mother Helen.
Beginning in 1854, he is provides a Hyde Park address for his annual submissions to the Royal Academy, but yearly listings in Aberdeen also continue until about 1861, suggesting that he divided his time between the two cities. After 1861, however, his name no longer appears in the Aberdeen directories. He is found in the 1861 English census for St. Marylebone as John Stirling, b 1829 in Scotland, age 32, unmarried, artist-painter at Langham Place, the address used at the Royal Society exhibits beginning in 1861. His mother's death in 1862 may have resulted in a permanent move to London.
Stirling began as a genre painter of portraits and subjects from literature. He first exhibited paintings at the Royal Academy annual show in 1852 and achieved some success and attention after John Ruskin praised his “Scottish Presbyterians in a country parish church - the sermon,” in 1855. An engraving of this work was reproduced in an issue of the London Illustrated News that year and a glowing review of the painting can be found in The Spectator on June 2, 1855. He continued to exhibit paintings at the Royal Academy almost yearly over two decades.
Some other minor information about Stirling can also be found in the minutes of the “Auld Lang Syne Sketching Club,” a biweekly meeting of Scottish artists living in London. Of some interest to you perhaps, is Mr. Stirling’s summary of a meeting that took place on Friday, 22nd Nov. 1866 –
“The club met at 1 Langham Chambers, for the first time, instead of as formerly at No. 5. A thin meeting, comprising, however, the Illustrious names of T. Faed, Nicol, and Douglas. The subject given was "Fire." No one, however, attempted the proposed theme. T. Faed illustrating the antagonistic element, water; but his sketch formed perhaps a not unpleasing contrast to the evening's work, which was of a more feeble and desultory nature than usual.
After tripe and onions, the conversation assumed a philosophical character. The Darwinian Theory of Development was discussed with much excellent display of a priori argument, though with a less abundant supply of facts. John Stirling.
As you know, John Stirling, Esq., M.A., Langham Chambers, Portland Place, was elected to the Fellows of the Anthropological Society of London on June 19, 1866. Stirling subsequently spent the winter of 1868 to 1869 in Tangier, Morocco and exhibited several Moroccan scenes at Royal Academy over the following two years. Based on his experiences in Morocco, he presented the paper "The Races of Morocco" which is published in the Journal of the Anthropological Society of London and read on June 8, 1870.
After 1870-71, Mr. Stirling is thought to have died suddenly while abroad although specific documentation is lacking. His last painting was shown at the Royal Academy was in 1871.
A note appears in “Art, Pictorial and Industrial: An Illustrated Magazine, Volume 1, January 1871,"Art Gossip," page 154”:
“As Mr. John Stirling cannot return to his studio in Paris, he intends proceeding at once to Tangiers to resume his studies of Moorish life and character. The Sultan of Morocco takes a warm interest in the labours of the artist, and under the aegis of his protection, Mr. Stirling is able to visit every spot of interest in his empire”.
In “Epitaphs & Inscriptions from Burial Grounds & Old Buildings in the North-East of Scotland, by Andrew Jervise, F.S.A. Scot, 1877 Volume 1 edited by John Grant Michie, Peterculter, page 19,” one finds the text:
“The Rev. John Stirling, 27 years minister of this parish, died 5th Oct. 1839, in the 54th year of his age. His widow Helen (Fowler), died 4th Dec. 1862, age 66. Mr. Stirling, who was a native of Dunblane, left a son who studied the fine arts. In early life Mr. S. painted portraits, also The Sermon, a scene in a Scotch Kirk, &c. He is presently (1872) at Tangier, engaged upon a picture of The Court of the Sultan of Morocco”.
Finally, Stirling is mentioned in “Reporting Reminiscences, Vol. 1 p. 381, 1902 by William Carnie”:
A painting entitled "The Revival Sermon" by our townsman Mr. John Stirling, exhibiting in the Royal Academy, was obtaining very favourable notice. Mention had already been made of this young aspirant, who promised well to maintain the artistic reputation of the city. One critic in an important paper wrote "Mr. Stirling bids fair to become the greatest colourist Scotland has produced." This was going a great length, remembering that John Phillip was in his glory. Stirling - he was somewhat flighty- went abroad, and died suddenly.
Publications
External Publications
House Publications
A paper by Mr John Stirling – on the races of Morocco – was referred to Sir Duncan Gibb and Dr Charnock 1870
