John Linnell Blue Plaque

About This Blue Plaque

John Linnell (1792-1882) was a renowned English landscape and portrait painter. Born in London, he showed artistic talent from a young age and became a student at the Royal Academy Schools. Linnell went on to establish himself as one of the leading figures in the English landscape painting tradition of the 19th century.

Linnell was a contemporary and friend of notable artists such as William Blake and Samuel Palmer. He was a key member of the Ancients, a group of young artists who sought to revive the spiritual and imaginative qualities of medieval art. Linnell’s paintings often depicted the English countryside with a sense of romanticism and nostalgia.

In addition to his landscapes, Linnell was a skilled portraitist. He painted portraits of many prominent figures of his time, including the poet William Wordsworth and the scientist Charles Darwin. Linnell’s success as an artist allowed him to purchase a house and studio at 38 Porchester Terrace in the fashionable Bayswater area of London, where he lived and worked for many years.

Linnell’s former home and studio, located in the Borough of Westminster, later became the residence of another notable artist, the French photographer Camille Silvy (1834-1910). This connection highlights the artistic heritage of the building and the area, which has been home to many influential figures in the arts over the centuries.

Today, Linnell’s works can be found in major collections such as the Tate Britain, the Victoria and Albert Museum, and the National Portrait Gallery in London. His paintings continue to be admired for their technical skill, romantic sensibility, and evocative depictions of the English landscape.