JOHNSTON, Alexander

1815 - 1891

Alexander Johnston was born at Edinburgh in 1815 and baptised at Glencorse on 20 July 1815, son of Robert Johnston, an architect, and his wife Elizabeth née Jackson. In 1830, Alexander worked for an Edinburgh seal-engraver and was a student in the Trustees' Academy, Edinburgh 1831-1834. With an introduction to Sir David Wilkie (1785-1844), he travelled to London and in 1836 studied at the Royal Academy Schools under William Hilton (1786-1839). Whilst living at Edinburgh, Johnston had taken up portrait-painting bringing with him to London some portraits of Dr Morison's family, which he exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1836 and 1837 where, in 1838, he exhibited his first subject picture, 'The Mother's Prayer' his last showing was in 1886. In 1836, from 11 Buckingham Street, Portland Place, London, sent two works to the Royal Society of British Artists 'The Little Wanderer' and 'The Widow' and was a regular exhibitor until 1885, he also exhibited at the Suffolk Fine Arts Association at Ipswich in 1850 'The Trysting Tree'. He married at St Pancras, London on 22 August 1842, Emily Brown and in 1861 was a 46-year-old 'artist painter' living at 43 Upper Gower Street, St Pancras with his 36-year-old wife Emily and their children Alexander Guthrie 17, Francis Cecil 15, Cecilia 10, Arthur 8, Emily Margaret 6, Andrew I. 4 and Adrian Hope 2, all born in London. By 1871 they had moved to Fitzroy Street, St Pancras when he gave his age as 57. 'Alexander Johnston, formerly of King Henry's Road, South Hampstead but late of 21 Carlingford Road, Hampstead died at 21 Carlingford Road on 31 January 1891', his will was proved by Emily Margaret Johnston, spinster, his daughter, and sole executrix at £364. 15s.

Royal Academy Exhibits
from (no address)
1836 159 The Youngest son of Dr Morison
1837 603 Portraits of Dr. Morison's Family
from 10 Howland Street, London
1838 390 The Mother's Prayer
         539 Portrait of a Gentleman

from 36 King Henry's Road, Primrose Hill, NW
1886 592 An Idyll

---

Works by This Artist