John Rathbone (1750-1807) A Capriccio Landscape

A capriccio landscape depicting figures by a river before trees and a mountainous backdrop.

Set in a carved, giltwood frame.

John Rathbone was born in Cheshire in 1750 and worked as an artist in Manchester, London, and Preston painting landscapes in oils and watercolours. He gained the name of the ‘Manchester Wilson’. His works in watercolour are well drawn and interesting. The British Museum possesses three of his watercolour drawings, all of which are landscapes including figures. Another work by him exists in the Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool, and a further two hang in the Peel Park Art Gallery, Salford.

Between 1785 and 1806 Rathbone exhibited 48 landscapes at the Royal Academy in london and a further two at the Society of Artists. He exhibited three landscape paintings at the Exhibition of the Society of Artists in Liverpool in August 1774. Rathbone died in 1807.