John Frederick Herring, Sr.

John Frederick Herring, Sr. (* 1795 in London, † 1865 in Meopham, near Tonbridge ), also known as John Frederick Herring I, was a British painter in Victorian England. He added his signature "SR" (senior ) was added in 1836 when one of his four sons, John Frederick Herring Jr., was also known as a painter.

Life and work

Herring was born 1795 in London; He was the son of a London merchant of Dutch descent, born in the United States. The first 18 years of life spent Herring in London, his interests were horses and painting. In 1814, at age 18, he moved to Doncaster in the north of England. A year later married Ann Herring Harris; his sons John Frederick Herring Jr., Charles Herring, and Benjamin Herring were also artists, while his two daughters, Ann and Emma, married painter.

In Doncaster Herring painted signs from restaurants and the outer sides of carriages. Then he got a job as a coachman. In his spare time he painted portraits of horses for restaurants and became known at that time as the " artist coachman ". His talent was recognized by wealthy customers, and he began painting hunters and racehorses for the British society.

In 1830, John Frederick Herring left Doncaster and moved to Newmarket, where he lived three years until he moved to London. There Herring suffered financial difficulties and was supported by WT Copeland, who took many paintings on commission, and some designs used for its porcelain Copeland Spode bone china. In further developing his artistic skills helped him acquainted with the successful painter Abraham Cooper. In the years 1840 and 1841 he painted during a visit to Paris at the invitation of the Duc d' Orleans, son of the French King Louis- Phillipe, multiple images.

1845 Herring painted animal pictures for the Duchess of Kent. Orders of the ruling Queen Victoria, who supported him until his death, followed.

1853 Herring moved to rural Kent in southeast England; from this time he painted no more horse portraits. The last twelve years of his life were spent in Meopham Park near Tonbridge, where he lived as a country gentleman. There, he expanded his subjects to rural scenes and the very famous hunting pictures.

Is a highly successful and prolific artist Herring is on the same rank as Sir Edwin Landseer as one of the most important animal painter in the mid-19th century. His paintings were very popular, especially the 33 winners of horse racing from St. Leger at Doncaster and the 21 winners of the Derby race. Herring exhibited at the Royal Academy of Arts 1818-1865, at the "British institution " from 1830 to 1865 and at the " Society of British Artists" 1836-1852, where Herring Vice President in 1842.

Herring created hundreds of paintings that were highly recognized in his own lifetime. His paintings are among other things in the Tate Gallery, London, issued.