John Russell (1745-1806), Portrait painter and pastellist
Sitter associated with 6 portraits
Artist associated with 102 portraits
One of the eighteenth century's leading pastel portraitists. He was a deeply religious man who converted to Methodism in 1764. His diaries, kept throughout his life, record his concerns for his own spiritual welfare. He refused to work on Sundays or to go out to dinner, afraid of the blasphemous conversation he might hear. He numbered many evangelical preachers among his sitters including Rowland Hill. In 1770 Russell turned from oils to pastel, using grey or blue paper and smudging before accenting with black chalk.
by John Russell, after Andrea Soldi
pastel, (circa 1760)
NPG 4213
by John Russell
oil on canvas laid on board, 1770?
NPG 1792
by John Russell
pastel, circa 1780-1783
NPG 1465
by John Russell
black, white and red chalk with some pencil on grey paper, circa 1780
NPG 3907
by John Russell
pastel on grey paper, 1788
NPG 651
by John Russell
pastel, 1789
On display in Room 17 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG 2186
Elizabeth Bannister (née Harpur)
by John Russell
pastel, 1799
NPG 1770
after John Russell
mezzotint, late 18th century
NPG D804
by Jonathan Spilsbury, after John Russell
mezzotint, published 1770
NPG D1629
by Jonathan Spilsbury, after John Russell
mezzotint, published 1770
NPG D1630
All paintings by this artist on the BBC Your Paintings website
Captain Cook Memorial Museum, Whitby, North Yorkshire
Guildford House Gallery, Guildford, Surrey
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Surrey
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