Sir Joseph Noel Paton RSA
Elected ARSA: 11 November 1846
Elected RSA: 14 February 1850
Sir Joseph Noél Paton, R.S.A., was born in Dunfermline in 1821, and learnt the rudiments of Art from his father, who had studied as an Artist, and was by profession a designer of patterns for damask.
He early gave indication of his artistic ability, and while yet a youth was employed as a draughtsman in a muslin manufactory in Paisley. In 1843 he went to London and entered as a student the schools of the Royal Academy, but did not study there.
During his stay, however, at that time in London he executed a number of outline etchings illustrative of Shakespeare, Milton, and Shelley, which brought him into notice. On his return to Scotland in the following year he exhibited for the first time in the Royal Scottish Academy, “The Gleaner,” and in 1845, “ Rachael Weepingforher Children.”
In the same yeat he sent a large cartoon, “The Spirit of Religion,” to the Westminster Hall Competition, which received one of three premiums awarded, and in 1847 met with a like success for two works sent in competition.
Amongst his numerous and most characteristic works are :—“Christ Bearing His Cross,” 1847; “The Reconciliation of Oberon and Titania,” 1847; purchased by the Royal Scottish Academy, “Quarrel of Oberon and Titania—First Study,” his Diploma work, “The Quarrel of Oberon
and Titania," 1850, purchased by the Royal Association for the Promotion of Fine Art in Scotland; “Death of Paolo and Francesca,” 1851; “Eve of St. Agnes,” 1852; “The Sun shall no more be thy light by day,” 1854: “The Pursuit of Pleasure,’ 1855; “ Home,” 1856: "Hesperus," 1857; “The Bluidie Tryste,” “In Memoriam” and "Bertram's Dirge,” 1859; “ Dawn—Luther at Erfurt” and "Dowie Dens of Yarrow,” 1862; “Lullaby,” 1863; "Fact and Fancy," 1866; “I wonder who lives there” 1867; “A Fairy Raid,” 1869.
In his earlier years he was a liberal contributor to the Annual Exhibition of the Academy, having seldom failed to have works on its walls till 1886.
Latterly his attention was devoted to Sacred works. Among these are:—“The Man of Sorrows,’ 1875; “The Spirit of Twilight” and
"Christ the Great Shepherd,’ 1876; “The Man with the Mince Rake,” 1877; “Thy Will be Done,” 1878; “Lux in Tenebris,” 1879; “In Die Malo,’ 1882: “The Choice” and “Vigilate et Orate,’ 1886; “Beate Mundo Corde,” 1890 ; and “ De Profundis,” 1892.
He was the author of two volumes, Poems by a Painter and Spindrift. In 1846 he was eaelected, an Associate of the Royal Scottish Academy, and in 1850 attained the rank of Academician. In 1866 he was appointed Herlate Majesty’s Limnerfor Scotland, and in the following year received from Her Majesty the honour of Knighthood.
In 1876 the University of Edinburgh conferred on him the Honorary Degree of LL.D. He died on 26th December at his residence in Edinburgh.
RSA Obituary transcribed from the 1902 RSA Annual Report
He early gave indication of his artistic ability, and while yet a youth was employed as a draughtsman in a muslin manufactory in Paisley. In 1843 he went to London and entered as a student the schools of the Royal Academy, but did not study there.
During his stay, however, at that time in London he executed a number of outline etchings illustrative of Shakespeare, Milton, and Shelley, which brought him into notice. On his return to Scotland in the following year he exhibited for the first time in the Royal Scottish Academy, “The Gleaner,” and in 1845, “ Rachael Weepingforher Children.”
In the same yeat he sent a large cartoon, “The Spirit of Religion,” to the Westminster Hall Competition, which received one of three premiums awarded, and in 1847 met with a like success for two works sent in competition.
Amongst his numerous and most characteristic works are :—“Christ Bearing His Cross,” 1847; “The Reconciliation of Oberon and Titania,” 1847; purchased by the Royal Scottish Academy, “Quarrel of Oberon and Titania—First Study,” his Diploma work, “The Quarrel of Oberon
and Titania," 1850, purchased by the Royal Association for the Promotion of Fine Art in Scotland; “Death of Paolo and Francesca,” 1851; “Eve of St. Agnes,” 1852; “The Sun shall no more be thy light by day,” 1854: “The Pursuit of Pleasure,’ 1855; “ Home,” 1856: "Hesperus," 1857; “The Bluidie Tryste,” “In Memoriam” and "Bertram's Dirge,” 1859; “ Dawn—Luther at Erfurt” and "Dowie Dens of Yarrow,” 1862; “Lullaby,” 1863; "Fact and Fancy," 1866; “I wonder who lives there” 1867; “A Fairy Raid,” 1869.
In his earlier years he was a liberal contributor to the Annual Exhibition of the Academy, having seldom failed to have works on its walls till 1886.
Latterly his attention was devoted to Sacred works. Among these are:—“The Man of Sorrows,’ 1875; “The Spirit of Twilight” and
"Christ the Great Shepherd,’ 1876; “The Man with the Mince Rake,” 1877; “Thy Will be Done,” 1878; “Lux in Tenebris,” 1879; “In Die Malo,’ 1882: “The Choice” and “Vigilate et Orate,’ 1886; “Beate Mundo Corde,” 1890 ; and “ De Profundis,” 1892.
He was the author of two volumes, Poems by a Painter and Spindrift. In 1846 he was eaelected, an Associate of the Royal Scottish Academy, and in 1850 attained the rank of Academician. In 1866 he was appointed Herlate Majesty’s Limnerfor Scotland, and in the following year received from Her Majesty the honour of Knighthood.
In 1876 the University of Edinburgh conferred on him the Honorary Degree of LL.D. He died on 26th December at his residence in Edinburgh.
RSA Obituary transcribed from the 1902 RSA Annual Report
