JOHNSTON, Alexander

1815 - 1891

Alexander Johnston was born at Edinburgh in 1815 and baptised at Glencorse, Midlothian, Scotland 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, he 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 46 Great Portland Street
1839 175 Portrait of a Lady
         522 Portrait of a Gentleman
         1197 The Departure
from 58 Newman Street
1840 72 Scene from the Gentle Shepherd
1841 1176 Sunday Morning
from 8 Stanhope Street, Gloucester Gate, Regent's Park
1842 495 The Covanter's Marriage
from 14 Bernard Street, Russell Square
1844 427 The Highland Lament
1845 546 'Unnamed'
1846 374 The Introduction of Flora M'Donald to Prince Charles Edward Stuart
from 46 Great Camden Street South, Camden Town
1847 421 The Burial of Charles I
1849 299 Scene from the Lady of the Lake
from 4 Southampton Street, Fitzroy Square
1850 430 The Hayfield
         627 Portrait of a Lady
1851 62 [incorrect listing]
1852 282 The Covenanter's Burial
         541 The Flitting (Scotch)
1853 22 Melancthon
         469 Edward IV's first interview with Elizabeth Woodville
1854 503 Tyndale translating the Bible into English
from 43 Upper Gower Street
1855 361 The Abdication of Mary Queen of Scots
1856 597 The Arrest of John Brown, of Ashford, a Lollard
1857 483 Sabbath
         570 The Minstrel
1858
1859
1861
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1885
from 36 King Henry's Road, Primrose Hill, NW
1886 592 An Idyll

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Works by This Artist