James Campbell

Background

James Campbell was born in 1828 in Liverpool, England. He was the son of a Liverpool insurance clerk.

Education

He studied briefly at the Liverpool Academy and then moved on to the Royal Academy Schools in 1851.

Career

As a young artist he was influenced by the Pre-Raphaelites, but was mostly interested in their painting techniques. Campbell was less concerned with the moral subjects they favoured. He developed his own individualistic painting style.

Campbell regularly exhibited in Liverpool, and was a familiar figure in the town. In his 1904 book about the Liverpool School of artists, H. C Marillier (1865 - 1951) identified Campbell as a regular at the artistic parties thrown by the art collector John Miller (about 1796 - 1876).

Campbell appears to have abandoned landscape in the mid - to late 1850s' in favour of scenes of everyday life. The quality of his work was praised by art reviewers, but he was also criticised for painting ugly rather than beautiful subject matter. His minutely detailed genre paintings show his sympathy towards impoverished, disadvantaged people.

In the 1860s' Campbell moved to London with the aim of boosting his prospects. Although he continued to exhibit, and broadened his style and subject matter, his career failed to take off. Later in life the quality of his work deteriorated as his eyesight failed. Campbell died in Birkenhead in 1893.

John Miller was one of his most generous patrons.

Achievements

• James was a prominent painter famous for his style. Campbell exhibited 37 works at the Liverpool Academy between 1845 and 1864, and four at the Liverpool Institution of Fine Arts between 1863 and 1865.

Works

More photos

• painting

  • The King's Shilling

  • The Lollipop

  • Waiting for Legal Advice

  • The Homeward Trudge

  • The Wife's Remonstrance

  • The Dragon's Den

  • The Old Fiddler

  • Girl with a Jug of Ale and Pipes

  • News from My Lad

  • Village Politicians

  • The Fishing Lesson