African Grey Parrot by a bird cage
African Grey Parrot by a bird cage
JAMES FLEWITT MULLOCK
1818-1892
Welsh School
African Grey Parrot by a bird cage
Oil on canvas, signed and dated 1866(?)
59.2 x 56.8 cms
23¼ x 223/8 inches
Overall framed size 73 x 71.7 cms
283/4 x 281/4 inches
James Flewitt Mullock was a Welsh nineteenth century painter of animals, landscapes, genre and portraits who is Newport’s most renowned artist with thirty-two examples of his work in the Newport museum and Art Gallery, nine in Amgueddfa Cymru, the National Museum of Wales in Cardiff and one with the National Trust at Tredegar House.
He was born in 1818 in Newport, Monmouthshire but nothing is known about his training as an artist but his known paintings date from about 1840 with one depiction of a prize ox being exhibited at Newport Mechanics Institute in 1841. His early period, c1840 to c 1850, mostly comprised sporting and animal works and thereafter his oeuvre expanded into landscape, topographical, portraiture and genre subjects.
His father, Richard Mullock (1784-1865), had come to Wales from the English county of Cheshire in 1808. He was a dealer in china and glass as well as being the proprietor of the Llantarnam Potteries. He took a keen interest in his new home and became involved in local administration, serving as an Alderman for many years, eventually becoming Mayor in 1842.
James seems to have followed in his father’s footsteps with his desire to be involved in the community, taking a keen interest in the cultural life of the town. He was also the only art teacher in Newport and worked in that role from 1868 to 1877. He only ever exhibited his own work in the town although occasionally he did depict subject matter in England such as Charles Rendall with Greyhounds, which has Stonehenge behind the subjects of the paintings and Twilight, Mendip Hills. Other titles of his work in Wales include: Tom Llewelyn Brewer on his horse ‘The Doctor’; Thomas Harris, Kennel-man to Tom Llewelyn Brewer; Newport from Fairoak Hill; Tredegar Park from Ebbw Bridge; Mr James Hodges and his two year old Hereford heifer; Shorthorn cow; Salmon; Sir Charles Morgan at the Castleton Ploughing Match 1845; Dr Fothergill Rowlands of Nantyglo on Tom Llewelyn Brewer’s horse ‘Bold Navy’ and Bravissimo, winner of the Monmouthshire Hunt.
A highly significant artistic moment in Mullock’s career was his witnessing of the Chartist Uprising in 1839. This had its roots in the demand for universal suffrage which had been rejected by Parliament and the subsequent protest march by 4,000 Chartist sympathisers on 14th March, was the last armed uprising in Wales. A number of these marchers were arrested en route to Newport and were held by police in the Westgate Hotel. This inflamed the situation and additional protesters from further afield, some armed, came to the hotel seeking to liberate their comrades. The 45th Regiment of Foot had been assigned to protect the police and the violent confrontation escalated to the point where the troops opened fire (possibly in response to a shot from the crowd) causing the death or injury to between 50 and 75 people.
This event was witnessed by James Mullock from an upstairs window of a building opposite who later produced a print of the scene and he also sat in court to observe and draw the Grand Jury hearing in Monmouth of the prosecution of three of the Chartist leaders.
Mullock and his wife saw Newport’s population surge almost tenfold in his life as a consequence of commercial and industrial growth. His contribution to the locale resulted in a blue plaque being attached on Keeper’s Lodge in 2007 by the Newport Civic Society which says: “To commemorate the life of a Victorian Newportonian – artist – art teacher – bibliophile – educational reformer – bon vivant – horticulturalist and clerk to Newport and St Woolos Burial Board, the first municipal body of its kind in Britain.”
Bibliography:
Newport Museum and Art Gallery, South Wales
Amgueddfa Cymru — National Museum Wale
Elspeth Moncrieff, Farm Animal Portraits, 1996, p. 148, colour plate 134
John Wilson, Art and Society in Newport: James Flewitt Mullock and the Victorian Achievement
South Wales Argus
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59.2 x 56.8 cms23¼ x 223/8 inchesOverall framed size 73 x 71.7 cms 283/4 x 281/4 inches James Flewitt Mullock was a Welsh nineteenth century painter of animals, landscapes, genre and portraits who is Newport’s most renowned artist with thirty-two examples of his work in the Newport museum and Art Gallery, nine in Amgueddfa Cymru, the National Museum of Wales in Cardiff and one with the National Trust at Tredegar House.He was born in 1818 in Newport, Monmouthshire but nothing is known about his training as an artist but his known paintings date from about 1840 with one depiction of a prize ox being exhibited at Newport Mechanics Institute in 1841. His early period, c1840 to c 1850, mostly comprised sporting and animal works and thereafter his oeuvre expanded into landscape, topographical, portraiture and genre subjects.His father, Richard Mullock (1784-1865), had come to Wales from the English county of Cheshire in 1808. He was a dealer in china and glass as well as being the proprietor of the Llantarnam Potteries. He took a keen interest in his new home and became involved in local administration, serving as an Alderman for many years, eventually becoming Mayor in 1842.James seems to have followed in his father’s footsteps with his desire to be involved in the community, taking a keen interest in the cultural life of the town. He was also the only art teacher in Newport and worked in that role from 1868 to 1877. He only ever exhibited his own work in the town although occasionally he did depict subject matter in England such as Charles Rendall with Greyhounds, which has Stonehenge behind the subjects of the paintings and Twilight, Mendip Hills. Other titles of his work in Wales include: Tom Llewelyn Brewer on his horse ‘The Doctor’; Thomas Harris, Kennel-man to Tom Llewelyn Brewer; Newport from Fairoak Hill; Tredegar Park from Ebbw Bridge; Mr James Hodges and his two year old Hereford heifer; Shorthorn cow; Salmon; Sir Charles Morgan at the Castleton Ploughing Match 1845; Dr Fothergill Rowlands of Nantyglo on Tom Llewelyn Brewer’s horse ‘Bold Navy’ and Bravissimo, winner of the Monmouthshire Hunt. A highly significant artistic moment in Mullock’s career was his witnessing of the Chartist Uprising in 1839. This had its roots in the demand for universal suffrage which had been rejected by Parliament and the subsequent protest march by 4,000 Chartist sympathisers on 14th March, was the last armed uprising in Wales. A number of these marchers were arrested en route to Newport and were held by police in the Westgate Hotel. This inflamed the situation and additional protesters from further afield, some armed, came to the hotel seeking to liberate their comrades. The 45th Regiment of Foot had been assigned to protect the police and the violent confrontation escalated to the point where the troops opened fire (possibly in response to a shot from the crowd) causing the death or injury to between 50 and 75 people.This event was witnessed by James Mullock from an upstairs window of a building opposite who later produced a print of the scene and he also sat in court to observe and draw the Grand Jury hearing in Monmouth of the prosecution of three of the Chartist leaders.Mullock and his wife saw Newport’s population surge almost tenfold in his life as a consequence of commercial and industrial growth. His contribution to the locale resulted in a blue plaque being attached on Keeper’s Lodge in 2007 by the Newport Civic Society which says: “To commemorate the life of a Victorian Newportonian – artist – art teacher – bibliophile – educational reformer – bon vivant – horticulturalist and clerk to Newport and St Woolos Burial Board, the first municipal body of its kind in Britain.” Bibliography:Newport Museum and Art Gallery, South WalesAmgueddfa Cymru — National Museum WaleElspeth Moncrieff, Farm Animal Portraits, 1996, p. 148, colour plate 134John Wilson, Art and Society in Newport: James Flewitt Mullock and the Victorian AchievementSouth Wales Argus ){kind=link}