John Terrick Williams

"Brixham Harbour in Devon at Night, small impressionist oil painting nocturne

post 1908

TERRICK WILLIAMS British 1860- 1937 John Terrick Williams , better known as Terrick Williams was a British painter who was a member of the Royal Academy. During his lifetime, Williams became one of the most successful painters in London. Williams was born on 20 July 1860 in Liverpool, England, the son of a businessman. He was educated at Kings College School, London and was expected by his father to continue in the family business. However, his determination to become an artist saw him move to Europe and study under Charles Verlat in Antwerp and later at the Académie Julian where he was taught by Benjamin-Constant, William-Adolphe Bouguereau and Tony Robert-Fleury in Paris. In 1891, Williams took on studios at the recently established Blackheath Art Club, from where he submitted works for exhibition at the Royal Academy, the Royal Institute, the Royal Society, and many other Institutions. Like many artists of his generation, Williams' fascination with natural light and naturalistic subjects, saw him drawn to the fishing villages and harbours of Northern Europe. Williams focussed on landscape and marine subjects and painted in oil, pastel and watercolour. He travelled extensively and his impressionistic, luminous paintings sought the transient effects of light and reflections in Venice, St. Tropez, Paris, Brittany and St. Ives. At the outset, although Williams’ style was clearly influenced by the Impressionists, his realistic approach to the depiction of his subject matter – fishermen and local inhabitants going about their ordinary tasks – had some similarities with that of the first generation of Newlyn artists. From about 1915, however, the figures that had played a significant role in his early paintings had become smaller and indistinct and he concentrated more on the challenges involved in the depiction of water and atmospheric conditions. He became a master at creating evocative atmospheric effects and his acute awareness of tonal values was a key factor in his success. He was elected a member of the Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours in 1904. His work was regularly exhibited at the Royal Academy from 1891. He was elected an Associate of the Royal Academy (A.R.A.) on 18 November 1924, a Royal Academician (R.A.) on 14 February 1933, and a Senior R.A. on 1 January 1936. In 1933 he was also elected President of the RI. He died on his birthday in 1936 aged 76. After his death a memorial exhibition was held at the Fine Art Society in 1937. Terrick John Williams is considered by many to be the foremost British Impressionist painter of his generation. In 1925 Williams maintained "I much prefer painting abroad, chiefly in France, as I find the towns are more picturesque and I usually paint towns or harbours. I find foreign towns less modernised than English ones". This beautiful painting is an excellent example of the Masters art. A copy of the book “Mist and Morning Sunshine” is supplied with this picture.