John Arnesby Brown

Midsummer was exhibited in the summer exhibition at the Royal Academy in 1906, the catalogue for this exhibition shows an image of this painting, 'The Studio' magazine of 1906 also shows an image of this painting at this time Arnesby Brown was living in Haddiscoe, Norwich, Norfolk.

Midsummer was also exhibited by ''Arnesby Brown'' at the Kunstlerhaus - Vienna, Austria in 1907 at the 34th annual exhibition, exhibition labels to the reverse of the frame, confirmed from the exhibition records by Prof. Dr. Wladimir Aichelburg.

The world famous Ear and Hearing specialist; Professor Dr. Victor Urbantschitsch (1847-1921) who lived in Vienna, purchased Midsummer for 5533Kr. from this exhibition in Vienna. The painting remained in Vienna in private collections for almost a 100 years........
I am very grateful to Prof. Dr. Wladimir Aichelburg. Wien, Vienna.

This painting is in the original magnificent, broad, double frame, which was chosen by the artist. Hand written label (in the hand of the artist) on the reverse, artists name, address, with the price of £400. The painting retains the artists original glaze.
This timeless pastoral painting, surely, has to be one of Arnesby Brown's, 'very best' major paintings. The shimmering heat haze the radiating sun rays. This magical atmospheric painting is so life-like, a screen gives only an impression' of the natural wonder of this painting.

The selection of the colours in this painting are just.... amazing....
We can see some of the colours used in the painting : ~ pink, yellow, light and dark blue, grey, orange, red, black, maroon, turquoise, beige, brown, many different shades of green, etc.

Sir John Alfred Arnesby Brown R.A. was an extraordinary landscape painter of pure brilliance. He is best known for his Norfolk and Suffolk pastoral landscapes with cattle, where he skilfully and uniquely captured the strong contrasts of light, shadow, and naturalistic horizons in his paintings, working with an amazing array of colours.

Arnesby Brown was born in Nottingham in March 1866 where he lived in his early years at Pelham Close, The Park. Then later, he went to live in Cornwall and other addresses before settling and working from; The White House, Haddiscoe, Norwich, Norfolk. Where he lived for 50 years.

Arnesby Brown first studied at 'The Nottingham School of Art', then later under the artist and teacher Hubert Herkomer, (1849 -1914) who founded and directed 'The Bushey School Of Art' at Bushey, Herts., England.

Arnesby Brown was elected A.R.A on 21st Jan.1903, elected R.A. on 12th Feb.1915, elected senior R.A. on 1st Jan.1942.

Arnesby Brown exhibited a total of 141 paintings at the Royal Academy - London, every year from 1891 to 1942, often three paintings and sometimes four at a time.

Three Paintings by Arnesby Brown were purchased from the Royal Academy exhibitions, under the terms of the Chantrey Bequest, and presented by the trustees, to the Tate Art Gallery - London, In 1901; Morning, 1910; Silver Morning, 1919; The Line of the Plough.

THE RECENT WORK OF ARNESBY BROWN R.A. is an article by

CHARLES MARRIOTT in The Studio Magazine of September 1917.

The following are some extracts from this article: ~ If popularity be the test of art, assuredly it is one test, the landscapes of Mr. Arnesby Brown, R.A., will rank high in the history of the present generation.

Reference to Monet and Cézanne and to impressionism helps to place Mr. Arnesby Brown amongst his contemporaries better than any other living painter, he represents the native development of the impressionism which derives from Constable.

You could not alter a single brush-mark without loosening the design as well as affecting the representation. There is not a painter living who can ''say'' more in a naturalistic way with a single movement of the brush than Mr. Arnesby Brown.

It is a fortunate circumstance that so popular an artist should be such a genuine master of painting.

A memorial exhibition of the works of Sir Arnesby Brown R.A. was held at Norwich Castle Museum on 1st July to 30th August 1959, to pay tribute to the memory of this deeply respected artist. The paintings shown were from public and private collections, one of the lenders, was the artist Edward Seago (1910-1974) with a oil on panel painting from his personal collection.

Sir John Arnesby Brown was knighted in 1938.

Paintings by Arnesby Brown were exhibited at many locations including:- Royal Academy - London, Manchester City Art Gallery, Nottingham Museum and Art Gallery, Lady Lever Art Gallery - Port Sunlight, Walker Art Gallery - Liverpool, Fine Art Society, and many others.

Paintings by Sir John Arnesby Brown R.A. are held at:- The Royal Academy - London, Lady Lever Art Gallery - Port Sunlight, Tate Gallery - London, Worcester City Museum, The Fitzwilliam Museum - Cambridge, Norwich Castle and Museum, Nottingham Castle Art Gallery, Harris Art Gallery - Preston, Tyne and Wear Museum, Birmingham City Art Gallery, Queensland Art Gallery - Australia, Christchurch Art Gallery - New Zealand. National Gallery - Canada, and many others...