PYTCHES, John Thomas

1843 - 1905

John Thomas Pytches was born at Melton, Woodbridge, Suffolk on 3 April 1843 and baptised at St Andrew's Church, Melton on 8 June 1843, only child of Thomas Pytches (1803-9 January 1866), a major in the East Suffolk Territorials, and his wife Anne Carthew (1798-1877), only child of Revd Thomas Carthew, who married at Woodbridge on 13 April 1841. In 1851, John was a 7-year-old, living at Melton Street, Woodbridge with his parents, 47-year-old Thomas and 52-year-old Anne with one indoor servant. He was articled to a solicitor but by 1871 a 28-year-old 'living from investment income', on a visit to 43-year-old architect Frederick Francy and his family, at Lower Toddington Road, Brentford, Middlesex. A member of the Ipswich Fine Art Club 1875-1876 and exhibited in 1875, seven works 'Autumn Sunset', 'By the Roadside', 'The Life of Enoch Arden', 'Home', 'From Life', 'The Glen' and 'Still Life'. He married at Roos, Partrington, Yorkshire in 1879, Mary Elizabeth Dickinson and in 1891, a 48-year-old 'on own means', living at Little Grange, Woodbridge with his 37-year-old wife Mary and two servants. Little Grange was the former home of poet & translator Edward Fitzgerald and where John Thomas Pytches died on 21 April 1905, aged 62 and his wife Mary followed on 14 March 1934, aged 80, they had two sons Thomas Arthur (1879-1953) and George Julian (1880-1965).

There is extant by John T. Pyches of Woodbridge, Suffolk. A mid 19th century pocket sketchbook containing accomplished pen and ink drawings - a mixture of comic sketches, and maritime views. 84 leaves, the majority with drawings on both sides. 'Tom Pytches, His Book of Wisdom & Cuteness, Log of the Blue Belle, RHYC, and also a Xmas Supplement, Anecdotes in Verse and Worse, humbly dedicated to the Governor of the Asylum for Idiots, by a long-lost brother.' Short Poems for the Nursery for those who laugh and never cry (in the style of Edward Lear). Contemporary black morocco cloth covers, with original clasp.
11.5cm x 16cm
Other illustrations include:
Bobby & crowd
Portrait of a Gentleman. Ye late Bob Creasy, Esq, Hasketon.
Ye olde Blak-Gent, Ys Picture.
The Armourer
The death of Cithiminthetumtum, Chief of the Ailimanetims, after Fore, by Jingo.
Ramshoes Cliff, and Docks
Flight shooting
Wilford Bridge
Glemham Parva
Holbrook Gardens

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Works by This Artist