The Life and Travels of John Wollaston
Born in London, United Kingdom, John Wollaston was an English painter who specialized in portraiture. He is believed to have been the son of a painter, though some sources suggest his father's name was John Woolston. His early training is not fully recorded, though it has been mentioned that he trained in London with a drapery painter. He was active between 1734 and 1775.
Wollaston crossed the Atlantic in 1749, settling for a time in New York City. He later traveled to Philadelphia, Annapolis, and Virginia, where he produced many portraits of locals. His final American stop was Charleston, where he painted at least seventeen portraits before returning to London in May 1767. He was last recorded in England in 1775.
Artistic Style and Subjects
Wollaston's portraits are characterized by several distinct features:
His treatment of the subjects' eyes is considered peculiar and serves to identify even his unsigned portraits. While some critics have described him as competent but not very inventive, his work was widely respected in his day. His portraits can be found in various museum collections, including the National Gallery of Art, the Detroit Institute of Arts, the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and the Brooklyn Museum of Art.
