Thursday, April 30, 2009

Henry James Johnstone - Sorry Boy


[Sorry Boy - None to Spare]
Born in Birmingham in 1835, he seems to have developed his style in watercolours after he went to Australia in 1853 where he became a photographer in Melbourne. Later he went to America until he returned to England in 1880 and died in London in 1907. He exhibired widely, including at the RA. Perhaps reflecting his career, his pictures have an almost photographic quality. Notice how much detail is in this picture. Unlike many pictures of the time it is not particularly 'cute' and rather reflects a sense of poverty (the boy is probably eating bread and weak tea).

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