James Holland was an English painter, draughtsman and illustrator of the Victorian period. His motifs were mainly flowers, landscapes, the architecture of cities and the sea. The prolific Englishman was also active as a book illustrator. Holland painted both oil and watercolor paintings. As a permanent member of the Royal Watercolor Society he could boast of being one of the best in his profession. Especially for his compositions and an excellent watercolour technique Holland was known throughout Europe.
In the short time that Holland was employed in the workshop of the ceramics manufacturer John Davenport, he got to know the art of ceramic and porcelain painting. At the tender age of 20, Holland moved to the world metropolis of London. There he initially earned his living as a simple worker, painting crockery and pots decoratively. Besides, the young man tried inexhaustibly to advance his career as a visual artist. Only four years after moving to London, the ambitious Dutchman was able to make a name for himself with his exhibition at the renowned Royal Academy of Arts in London. From then on, exhibitions in which he participated or solo exhibitions of his work took place regularly throughout London and the surrounding area - including at the Society of British Artists and the Society of Painters in Watercolor. In 1831 Holland travelled to France with his colleague and friend John Scarlett Davis. After a rather unspectacular stop in Paris, Holland visited Venice for the first time. Holland immediately fell in love with the Italian city of the canals and visited it again many times during his life. Venice's city views became his favorite motif and he created countless watercolor and oil paintings there.
Holland was commissioned by the English magazine 'Landscape Annual' to produce illustrations for a travel guide to Portugal. After an extensive research trip through the southern country he was finally seized by the wanderlust. He travelled to France, Switzerland, Austria and even Egypt and used the many impressions and encounters he had as inspiration and motivation for his artistic work. But he did not neglect his home country Great Britain either: Holland is also known for its landscape paintings of British nature, including views of Greenwich and Blackheath near his home in London. However, he achieved his greatest success with his paintings from abroad.
In the hope of becoming a member of the Royal Academy, the now successful mature man left the society of watercolour painters. Nevertheless, he was never accepted in the end. As a painter, however, he was highly appreciated by his contemporaries, critics and the public.
James Holland was an English painter, draughtsman and illustrator of the Victorian period. His motifs were mainly flowers, landscapes, the architecture of cities and the sea. The prolific Englishman was also active as a book illustrator. Holland painted both oil and watercolor paintings. As a permanent member of the Royal Watercolor Society he could boast of being one of the best in his profession. Especially for his compositions and an excellent watercolour technique Holland was known throughout Europe.
In the short time that Holland was employed in the workshop of the ceramics manufacturer John Davenport, he got to know the art of ceramic and porcelain painting. At the tender age of 20, Holland moved to the world metropolis of London. There he initially earned his living as a simple worker, painting crockery and pots decoratively. Besides, the young man tried inexhaustibly to advance his career as a visual artist. Only four years after moving to London, the ambitious Dutchman was able to make a name for himself with his exhibition at the renowned Royal Academy of Arts in London. From then on, exhibitions in which he participated or solo exhibitions of his work took place regularly throughout London and the surrounding area - including at the Society of British Artists and the Society of Painters in Watercolor. In 1831 Holland travelled to France with his colleague and friend John Scarlett Davis. After a rather unspectacular stop in Paris, Holland visited Venice for the first time. Holland immediately fell in love with the Italian city of the canals and visited it again many times during his life. Venice's city views became his favorite motif and he created countless watercolor and oil paintings there.
Holland was commissioned by the English magazine 'Landscape Annual' to produce illustrations for a travel guide to Portugal. After an extensive research trip through the southern country he was finally seized by the wanderlust. He travelled to France, Switzerland, Austria and even Egypt and used the many impressions and encounters he had as inspiration and motivation for his artistic work. But he did not neglect his home country Great Britain either: Holland is also known for its landscape paintings of British nature, including views of Greenwich and Blackheath near his home in London. However, he achieved his greatest success with his paintings from abroad.
In the hope of becoming a member of the Royal Academy, the now successful mature man left the society of watercolour painters. Nevertheless, he was never accepted in the end. As a painter, however, he was highly appreciated by his contemporaries, critics and the public.
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