Neale, John Preston
Date Born/Est
1780
Date Died/Ceased
1847
Biographical Display
'A Post Office clerk who turned professional artist, painting insects and topography. He was a lifelong friend of J Varley who influenced this decision. He exhibited at the R A from 1804 to 1844 and with the Oil and Watercolour Society in 1817 and 1818. He worked for Britton's Beauties of England and Wales, sketched with J C Barrow and Dr Munro, as well as Varley.
His topographical work is carefully outlined and pleasantly coloured, but it is rarely particularly original. His Seats, however are an important record.'
(Dictionary of England and Wales, Vol II M-Z, RRM library)
'Painter of topographical and architectural subjects, insects, flowers and fruit;architectural draughtsman. His earliest works were drawings of insect, flowers and fruit(exhibit. some of these at the Royal Academy 1797-1803) He met John Varley(q.v.)in 1796, who became a life-long friend, and together they published The Picturesque Cabinet of Nature, No 1, 1796 (Neale etched and coloured the plates, Varley drew the landscapes; No2 never appeared). For a time he was a clerk in the Post Office, but eventually resigned. His works were now topographical landscapes and to give them greater truth he studied architecture; some were in oil, but mostly they were in pen tinted wtih watercolour. He travelled through Great Britain making drawings of country seats and churches, which were later published. His most famous published works include History and Antiquities of the Abbet Church of St Peter, Westminster, 18223(text by E W Brayley), Views of the Seats of Noblemen and Gentlemen in England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland(ist series 6 vols.,1824; 2nd series 5 vols, 1924-9). Exhibit 1797-1844 a tthe Royal Academy, British Institution, Sussex Street, Old Watercolour Society.
(Dictionary of British Art Volume IV Victorian Painters, Christopher Wood, RRM library)
His topographical work is carefully outlined and pleasantly coloured, but it is rarely particularly original. His Seats, however are an important record.'
(Dictionary of England and Wales, Vol II M-Z, RRM library)
'Painter of topographical and architectural subjects, insects, flowers and fruit;architectural draughtsman. His earliest works were drawings of insect, flowers and fruit(exhibit. some of these at the Royal Academy 1797-1803) He met John Varley(q.v.)in 1796, who became a life-long friend, and together they published The Picturesque Cabinet of Nature, No 1, 1796 (Neale etched and coloured the plates, Varley drew the landscapes; No2 never appeared). For a time he was a clerk in the Post Office, but eventually resigned. His works were now topographical landscapes and to give them greater truth he studied architecture; some were in oil, but mostly they were in pen tinted wtih watercolour. He travelled through Great Britain making drawings of country seats and churches, which were later published. His most famous published works include History and Antiquities of the Abbet Church of St Peter, Westminster, 18223(text by E W Brayley), Views of the Seats of Noblemen and Gentlemen in England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland(ist series 6 vols.,1824; 2nd series 5 vols, 1924-9). Exhibit 1797-1844 a tthe Royal Academy, British Institution, Sussex Street, Old Watercolour Society.
(Dictionary of British Art Volume IV Victorian Painters, Christopher Wood, RRM library)
Place Of Death
Ipswich/Suffolk/England
