James OrrockRI | |
|---|---|
 James Orrock | |
| Born | 1829 Edinburgh, Scotland |
| Died | 10 May 1913(1913-05-10) (aged 84) Shepperton,Middlesex, England |
| Nationality | Scottish |
| Education | James Ferguson William L. Leitch John Burgess |
| Alma mater | Nottingham School of Design underThomas Stuart Smith |
| Known for | WatercolourLandscape |
| Awards | Royal Institute of Painters in Watercolours Royal Scottish Academy Royal Academy |
James OrrockR.I., R.O.I. (1829 – 10 May 1913), was a prominentScottish collector of art and oriental ceramics, illustrator and landscape watercolourist. The scale of his involvement with the art trade and with top collectors such as John Ruskin is highlighted in the large two volume set of books published about him by Byron Webber: published in London, Chatto and Windus 1903: James Orrock R.I., Painter, Connoisseur, Collector. Rather than being a forger as some modern scholars like to believe Orrock was a dedicated enthusiast of contemporary British art and emulated some of those artists in his own work. He illustrated three books in the style of Turner: Mary Queen-of-Scots, 1906; Old England : her story mirrored in her scenes, 1908; and, In the Border country, 1906.[1][2][3]
James was the son of James Orrock, an Edinburgh surgeon, dentist and druggist, living at 17 Elm Row at the top ofLeith Walk.[4] The family moved to 2York Place when he was young.[5]
He was educated in medicine, surgery, and dentistry atEdinburgh University, after which he practised as a dentist inNottingham. Orrock studied painting underJames Ferguson,William L. Leitch, andJohn Burgess, later enrolling at theNottingham School of Design where he was taught byThomas Stuart Smith.
He settled in London by 1866, becoming an associate of theRoyal Institute of Painters in Water Colours in 1871, exhibiting at theRoyal Scottish Academy andRoyal Academy. His later style was highly influenced byDavid Cox, his paintings today are on show in various museums and galleries, including theVictoria and Albert Museum.[6]
A strong advocate ofJ. M. W. Turner and British art in general (owning several of J.M.W Turner's most important works), he was also an impassioned collector of Adam-style furniture decorated by Angelica Kauffman. A landscape painter and watercolourist, he is now believed to have restored, altered and improved works by other painters within his collection. Orrock created art-period rooms in his house, which he opened to the general public.[7]
Having on two previous occasions bought furniture and paintings from Orrock's personal collection,[1] on Orrock's deathLord Leverhulme bought most of his art collection, and some one thousand of his own paintings. Part of that collection was used to create theLady Lever Art Gallery atPort Sunlight.[8][9][10][11][12][1]
Today, Orrock is also notable as having commissioned many of the copies associated with the works ofJohn Constable.[2][3] His association with one copy ofA Sea Beach Brighton painting by Constable was featured on theBBC One'sFake or Fortune? in January 2014.[13] Thomas Griffith, Turner's friend and agent/dealer was one of the executors of his estate. The artist gifted a very large early sea peace "Shipwreck, the Rescue" 161 x 222 cm. to Griffith (presumably the documented "Stormy Picture" they had discussed, in need of cleaning and restoring c1844). This sea piece was one of the earliest, if not the first of Turner's monumental sea piece series, c1801-02. He was only 26 at the time and this series made his fame early on. "Shipwreck, the Rescue' passed from Sir J.C. Robinson, surveyor of Queen Victoria's pictures, then to James Orrock Esq.
His brotherHector Heatly Orrock (1831-1862) was a short-lived architect involved in railway station design with SirThomas Bouch.[14]
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