John Faed (Scottish/British 1819-1902) Portrait of Julia Mannering. Watercolour on paper. 7.5in x 5in, signed and titled, mounted in a glazed, gilt composition frame

EXHIBITED:
Royal Scottish Academy 1879

MEASUREMENTS
Frame: Height: 20in (50.5cm) Width: 17.5in (44.5cm)
Sight (visible painting): H: 7.5in (19cm) W: 5in (13cm)

SUBJECT
Julia Mannering is a character from Walter Scott’s “Guy Mannering’ - Julia is the daughter and love interest of the book’s hero, mainly located in Galloway - Faed’s home region.

CONDITION: The painting is in good condition with minimal fading. The frame has some losses of minor mouldings, since retouched.

BIOGRAPHY:
John Faed (b. 31 August,1819; d. 22 October,1902)
Scottish Painter and Portraitist, also Miniatures.

John Faed was born in Barlay Mill, Gatehouse, Galloway in 1819. He was the eldest of six children, five of whom went on to exhibit at the Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh or the Royal Academy, London. John was exhibited at both, Of his circa 278 known titles, 241 were hung in the Royal Scottish Academy, twenty of which were also exhibited in the Royal Academy, and a further nineteen were exhibited in the Royal Academy only. This list is thought incomplete. He is celebrated for his scenes from Scottish history and literature, particularly Walter Scott, Rabbie Burns; & Shakespeare.

John Faed’s artistic gifts were recognised at an early age. At just nine years old, John Faed was already painting portrait miniatures of local dignitaries. He was taught how to paint miniatures on ivory by the family of William Campbell, and encouraged by Lord Kenmure who was so impressed by the talent he saw, that he gifted the young artist with his own box of water colours.

Despite discouragement from his father, John Faed left Gatehouse for Edinburgh in 1848 to pursue his career as an artist, and attended Trustees’ Academy where he studied life-drawing and painting. He had his first works exhibited at the Royal Scottish Academy in 1841, where he became an Associate in 1847, and later a full Member in 1851. He continued to exhibit here until 1895.

From 1864, John Faed lived and worked in London, returning to Galloway in 1867 where he bought a plot of land and had his house ‘Ardmore’ built on the outskirts of Gatehouse. For a time he spent his summers here, returning to London for the winters. From 1880, Gatehouse became his permanent residence. From here, John Faed became instrumental in setting up a colony of Scottish Artists, becoming President of the Kirkcudbright Fine Art Association and passing on the encouragement he had himself received, to young Kirkcudbright artists such as: EA Homel, William Mouncey, Charles Oppenheimer, Jessie M King, and SJ Peploe.

John Faed died in 1902 at the age of 83 in the same village in which he was born, at home at Ardmore, in Gatehouse of Fleet, Kirkcudbrightshire, Galloway.