John Russell was an English artist who lived from 1745 to 1846. He was well regarded and remains primarily known for his beautiful portraits. He worked in oils and pastels and also taught painting and wrote about various painting techniques. He was born in Guildford, England, which is commonly known as the county town of the region of Surrey. Tourists who are staying in one of the quaint bed and breakfasts or luxury Surrey hotels have a great opportunity to see his work by visiting the Guildford Museum.

Russell had his formal training under the guidance of Francis Cotes. It was through working with Cotes that he gained the great control over the medium and learned to achieve spectacular results through using it. In 1767 Russell was ready to set up his own studio and he did so in London. This remained his standard location base, though he would frequently travel throughout Britain and do portraits for commission. His master of the form and use of pastels resulted in his writing the book Elements of Painting With Crayons, which remains a primary resource on pastel technique.

In addition to painting and art, Russell had a strong interest in astronomy, the sciences and mathematics. Alchemy was still considered as essential aspect of astronomy and science and would have played a role in his understandings. He was able to create a tool that allowed him to make accurate measurements of the moon for a painting he did. Unfortunately Russell suffered from health issues throughout most of his life, and in 1803 he struggled with a bad case of cholera, which left him almost deaf. Three years later in 1806 he got typhus which was a strong element in leading to his death that year. As part of his legacy, Russell’s son William followed in his father’s footsteps and also became a painter.

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