John Wilson Carmichael (1800-1868)
John Wilson Carmichael (1800-1868). Son of a shipwright, artist Carmichael was a 19th century British marine painter famous for his oil and watercolor seascapes. After spending some time at sea, painter Carmichael set up his first studio at the age of 23 in Newcastle. Soon after, he began exhibiting at prestigious galleries such as the Royal Academy and the British Institution, and Carmichael's maritime paintings for sale grew his reputation as a respected marine artist. Friend and pupil of T M Richardson snr. Exhibited extensively at the Northern Academy of Arts in Blackett Street Newcastle which was next door to his studio. Carmichael travelled in Holland, Italy and the Baltic. He recorded the Crimean War for the Illustrated London News. He also painted landscapes and watercolours. He coloured the figures and buildings in John Dobson's architectural drawings and also did a series of railway drawings. He lived in London but retired to Scarborough due to ill health where he later died. He exhibited at the Royal Academy 1835-59, British Institute and Suffolk Street. The centenary exhibition of Carmichael's work at the Laing Art Gallery Newcastle (Nov-Dec 1968) was the most comprehensive ever devoted to him. The catalogue contains a detailed account of his career. Works by Carmichael can be seen at Greenwich, Newcastle, Gateshead and Sunderland Art Galleries. His studio sale was held at Christies on November 24th-25th 1870.