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JOHN WHITE ABBOTT

1763, Exeter – 1851, Exeter

A practising surgeon and apothecary in Exeter for some twenty years, Abbott initially pursued art in his spare time, receiving tuition in watercolour as a young man from Francis Towne (1739-1816) and exhibiting oil paintings regularly from 1793 to 1805 at the Royal Academy as an honorary exhibitor (i.e. non-professional artist). His uncle James White, an eminent Exeter barrister and non-conformist, was a close friend of Towne’s and one of his companions on his Lake District tour of 1786, so it is perhaps not surprising that Abbott’s only known extensive tour outside Devon was to Scotland and the Lake District. A series of eighty numbered and dated drawings, covering six weeks from 13 June (York Minster) to 28 July (Glastonbury Abbey), shows that he was in the Lakes during the second week of July 1791. He approached from the direction of Carlisle (7 July), spent two days around Ullswater, and was at Rydal on 10 July. After a couple of days in Grasmere and Windermere (12 July), he sketched in Borrowdale on 13 July (four drawings) before turning southwards; he had reached Liverpool by 17 July. 'Still not sated with classic sights of the Picturesque' (as Wilcox, 2005, nicely puts it), Abbott then travelled to the Peak District in Derbyshire where he stayed from 21 to 23 July.

Abbott’s early exhibits at the RA received acclaim. In 1803 Towne praised his study of nature but thought he was insufficiently acquainted with works of art (Farington VI.2056) while others disliked his handling of aerial perspective and thought him self-satisfied (X.3795, 3807). By the 1810s many felt that, by remaining in Exeter and not being exposed to broader influences and outside criticism, he had failed to achieve his potential. On inheriting his uncle’s property and fortune in 1825 Abbott was able to retire from his profession and devote himself exclusively to painting but he did not exhibit at the RA after 1822.

LITERATURE

The Diary of Joseph Farington, ed. Kenneth Garlick, Angus Macintyre, Kathryn Cave and Evelyn Newby, New Haven and London, 17 vols, 1978-98; Timothy Wilcox, Francis Towne and his Friends, exhibition catalouge, John Spink/Colnaghi's, London, 2005

19.2.2015 Powell, Cecilia

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Reference Abbott, John White (1763-1851)

There are 6 works by Abbott, John White (1763-1851) in the Trust's collection, e.g.:
2004.207.9 artist Abbott, John White (1763-1851) , Rocks and Trees beside a Stream with Cattle beyond, 1810, ink wash on paper

WLMS G / 2 / 19 / 9 Abbott, John White. - Bill, for 1/8, from Ambleside, to John Carter. - For carriage, 3 February 1859. - Settled - 5 July 1859.

WLMS G / 8 / 8 / 14 Abbott, John White. - Invoice, from Brigham, to J F Crosthwaite for William Wordsworth (Jr). - For £4 4s 3d. - For railings, posts, gates, etc., 8.9 (1874). - Dated 10 October 1874 (settled), one penny stamp attached.

WLMS G / 8 / 8 / 16 Abbott, John White. - Invoice, from Brigham, to J F Crosthwaite for William Wordsworth (Jr). - Dated 22 May 1875. - For £3 6s. - For posts, rails, nails and labour, 19 May (1875). - Dated 5 June 1875 (settled), one penny stamp attached.

GRMDC.B42 artist Abbott, John White (1763-1851) , Helm Crag, Grasmere, 1791

Person/place picker

There are 6 works by Abbott, John White (1763-1851) in the Trust's collection, e.g.:
2004.207.9		artist Abbott, John White (1763-1851) , Rocks and Trees beside a Stream with Cattle beyond, 1810, ink wash on paper
WLMS G / 2 / 19 / 9		Abbott, John White. - Bill, for 1/8, from Ambleside, to John Carter. - For carriage, 3 February 1859. - Settled - 5 July 1859.
WLMS G / 8 / 8 / 14		Abbott, John White. - Invoice, from Brigham, to J F Crosthwaite for William Wordsworth (Jr). - For £4 4s 3d. - For railings, posts, gates, etc., 8.9 (1874). - Dated 10 October 1874 (settled), one penny stamp attached.
WLMS G / 8 / 8 / 16		Abbott, John White. - Invoice, from Brigham, to J F Crosthwaite for William Wordsworth (Jr). - Dated 22 May 1875. - For £3 6s. - For posts, rails, nails and labour, 19 May (1875). - Dated 5 June 1875 (settled), one penny stamp attached.
GRMDC.B42		artist Abbott, John White (1763-1851) , Helm Crag, Grasmere, 1791