Joseph Highmore

Joseph Highmore ( born June 13, 1692 in London, † March 3, 1780 in Canterbury ) was an English portrait and historical painter, illustrator and writer.

Life and work

Education and early years

Highmore was the third son of the English coal merchant Edward Highmore and nephew of the court painter Thomas Highmore. Between 1707 and 1715 he studied law, but felt more attracted to painting, so he attended the drawing school of Sir Godfrey Kneller, but also anatomical lectures of William Cheselden since 1713. 1715 he started his career as a portrait painter, and married a year later, the poet Susanna Hiller, which brought a rich heritage in the marriage. From 1720, he attended led by John Vander Bank and Louis Cheron art school in St. Martin 's Lane.

Successful middle years

In 1722 he had so far trained in his drawing technique and his knowledge of anatomy that he could illustrate Cheseldens Anatomy of the Human Body. Especially in higher circles was estimated his portraiture. In 1732 he traveled to the Netherlands to Dusseldorf to Paris in 1734, where it particularly impressed by the works of Peter Paul Rubens. After his return to England he perfected his art further and created a series of 12 paintings 1743-1744 to Samuel Richardson's novel Pamela, which he had in 1745 also nachstechen. The famous writer was then a close friend Highmore and sat him on several occasions model. Also, Highmore was moving like in the upscale literary circles in the environment of Richardson. In 1746 he founded a religious history paintings ( Hagar and Ishmael ) for the assembly room of the London Foundling Hospital.

Retirement

1761 took Highmore distance from the painting, moved to Canterbury and became the author of moral essays and art writer. In Canterbury he died at the age of 87 years and found in the local cathedral his final resting place.

Writings

• The Practice of Perspective. On the Principles of Dr. Brook Taylor. A. Millar and J. Nourse, London 1763rd ( Internet Archive ).