John Linnell was born on the 16th of June in 1792 in Bloomsbury, London, where his father worked as a carver and gilder. From an early age, he was exposed to the artistic world, selling portraits he drew in chalk and pencil by the age of ten. His initial art mentor was the American artist Benjamin West, and he spent a year residing in the household of the painter John Varley. It was there that he encountered fellow pupils like William Hunt and William Mulready, and formed connections with notable figures such as Shelley and Godwin. In 1805, he gained admission to the Royal Academy, where he earned medals for his skill in drawing, modeling, and sculpture. He honed his talents as an engraver and even produced a copy of Varley's "Burial of Saul."
During 1808, at the age of 16, Linnell moved into the home of Mulready, whose marital troubles may have been exacerbated by Linnell's presence. In his later years, Linnell dedicated himself to engraving, publishing a series of outlines from Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel frescoes in 1833. He also supervised the production of a selection of plates from the artworks housed in Buckingham Palace, including a mezzotint engraving of a Titian landscape. While he initially sustained himself through miniature painting and larger portrait commissions, Linnell's primary recognition lies in his landscape paintings.
Among his notable works are pieces like "St. John Preaching," "The Covenant of Abraham," and "The Journey to Emmaus." Although these paintings prominently feature English landscapes, their impact is heightened by vivid sunrise or sunset effects. Linnell's creations exude genuine poetic sentiment and are characterized by their vibrant and rich color palettes.
His landscape paintings fetched substantial prices, enabling him to acquire a property in Redhill, Surrey, around 1850, where he resided until his passing on the 20th of January in 1882. Linnell continued to paint landscapes with unwavering fervor until just a few years before his death. He also delved into Biblical studies, authoring several pamphlets and treatises on Biblical criticism. Linnell shared a deep friendship with William Blake, supporting him as a friend and patron. He commissioned two of Blake's most significant series of designs: one for "The Inventions to the Book of Job" and another illustrating Dante Alighieri.
Edward Thomas Daniell, a fellow painter, also counted Linnell among his friends. A blue plaque commemorates Linnell at Old Wyldes' in North End, Hampstead, noting that William Blake had been a guest at his home. Linnell's artistic legacy extended to his eldest son, William Linnell (1826-1906), who gained recognition for his 1840 drawing of "Smugglerius." This piece featured an écorché sculpture of a man posed in imitation of the ancient Roman sculpture known as the Dying Gaul.
