The Life and Art of John Russell
Born in Guildford, Surrey, John Russell was the son of a book and print seller. He showed an early inclination for art and trained under Francis Cotes RA, an early pioneer of English pastel painting. Russell's technical approach was influenced by the pastel drawings of Rosalba Carriera, specifically her methods of "sweetening." He established his own studio in London in 1767 and became an associate of the Royal Academy in 1771, eventually being elected a royal academician in 1788. His skill in portraiture earned him significant patronage, including the appointment as Crayon Painter to King George III, Queen Charlotte, the Prince of Wales, and the Duke of York.
Beyond his portraiture in oils and pastels, Russell was a man of deep religious conviction. A devout follower of George Whitefield, he maintained an elaborate introspective diary in John Byrom's shorthand, which he kept from 1766 until his death. His religious devotion influenced his daily life; for instance, he would not work on Sundays and would not allow anyone to enter his painting-room on those days. He also held a profound interest in astronomy, working with his daughter to create a lunar map and an apparatus called "Selenographia" to exhibit the phenomena of the Moon.
Notable Works and Legacy
Russell's artistic output was extensive, with 330 works exhibited at the Royal Academy between 1769 and his death. His subjects included prominent figures such as George James Bruere, the naturalist Sir Joseph Banks, and the scientist William Herschel. Some of his notable works include:
His detailed pastel drawing, The Face of the Moon, created between 1793 and 1797, is noted as a faithful early representation of the lunar sphere. Russell died in Hull after contracting typhus.
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