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{{Short description|English landscape painter}}
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'''Abraham Pether''' (1756 &ndash; 13 April 1812) was an English landscape painter, recognised for his skill in depicting moonlit scenes. He was also a talented musician, inventor, mathematician and philosopher.<ref>Lee, Sidney. ''[http://www.archive.org/details/dictionaryofnati45stepuoft Dictionary of national biography, volume 45]'' (1896) p80.</ref><ref>[http://www.johnbennettfinepaintings.co.uk/paintingdetails.asp?itemid=415&itemname=PETHER%2C+Abraham&image=Pether%2DAbraham%2Ejpg Biography] (John Bennett Fine Pintings).</ref>
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}
[[File:Abraham Pether - Evening scene with full moon and persons (1801).jpg|thumbnail|''Evening Scene With Full Moon and Persons'' (1801)]]
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'''Abraham Pether''' (1756 – 13 April 1812) was an English landscape painter, recognised for his skill in depicting moonlit scenes. He was also a talented musician, inventor, mathematician and philosopher.<ref name="DNB">{{DNB |inline=y |wstitle=Pether, Abraham|volume=45|page=80}}</ref>


==Life and work==
==Life and work==
[[File:Rest on the flight into Egypt.jpg|thumb|Rest on the flight into Egypt]]
[[File:Old Drury Lane Theatre on fire 1809, by Abraham Pether.JPG|thumb|''Old Drury Lane Theatre on fire'', 1809 (detail)]]
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[[File:Night blowing Cereus.jpg|thumb|"[[Nightblooming cereus|The Night Blowing Cereus]]" (flower painted by [[Philip Reinagle]], moonlit background by Pether)]]


Abraham was born in [[Chichester]] in [[Sussex]], and was a cousin of notable engraver [[William Pether]]. In childhood he showed a great talent for music, and at the age of nine played the organ in one of the Chichester churches. Adopting art as his profession, he became a pupil of [[George Smith (artist)|George Smith]], whom he greatly surpassed.
Abraham was born in [[Chichester]] in [[Sussex]] in 1756,<ref name="DNB" /><ref name="Redgrave" /> and was a cousin of notable engraver [[William Pether]].<ref name="DNB" /> In childhood he showed a great talent for music, and at the age of nine played the organ in one of the Chichester churches.<ref name="DNB" />


He painted river and mountain scenery, with classical buildings, in a pleasing though artificial style, somewhat resembling that of [[Richard Wilson (painter)|Richard Wilson]]; but his reputation rests on his moonlight subjects, which attracted much admiration, and earned for
Adopting art as his profession, he became a pupil of [[George Smith (English artist)|George Smith]],<ref name="DNB" /><ref name="Redgrave" /> whom he greatly surpassed. He painted river and mountain scenery, with classical buildings, in a pleasing though artificial style but his reputation rests on his moonlight subjects, which attracted much admiration, and earned for him the sobriquet of "Moonlight" Pether.<ref name="DNB" /> He was partial to the combination of moonlight and firelight, as in such subjects as ''Eruption of Vesuvius'', ''Ship on Fire in a Gale at Night'', ''An Iron foundry by Moonlight'' etc., which he painted with fine feeling and harmony of colour.<ref name="DNB" /><ref name="Redgrave" />
him the sobriquet of "Moonlight" Pether. He was partial to the combination of moonlight and firelight, as in such subjects as "Eruption of Vesuvius",<ref>[http://www.bridgemanartondemand.com/art/104448/The_Eruption_of_Vesuvius The eruption of Vesuvius] (1788).</ref> "Ship on Fire in a Gale at Night", "An Iron foundry by Moonlight" etc., which he painted with fine feeling and harmony of colour.


[[File:Abraham Pether - Rest on the flight into Egypt.jpg|thumb|''Rest on the flight into Egypt'']]
Pether was a major exhibitor with both the [[Society of Artists|Free Society of Artists]] and the [[Incorporated Society of Artists]] from 1773 to 1791, and at the [[Royal Academy]] from 1784 to 1811. His "Harvest Moon", which was at the Academy in 1795, was highly praised at the time. He had an extensive knowledge of scientific subjects, and in his moonlight pictures the astronomical conditions are always correctly observed.
Pether was a major exhibitor with both the [[Society of Artists of Great Britain|Free Society of Artists]] and the [[Incorporated Society of Artists]] from 1773 to 1791, and at the [[Royal Academy]] from 1784 to 1811.<ref name="DNB" /><ref name="Redgrave" /> He was a member of the Incorporated Society of Artists.<ref name="Redgrave" /> His "Harvest Moon", which was at the Academy in 1795, was highly praised at the time.<ref name="DNB" /><ref name="Redgrave" /> He had an extensive knowledge of scientific subjects, and in his moonlight pictures the astronomical conditions are always correctly observed.<ref name="DNB" />


Pether was also a clever inventor, constructing telescopes and microscopes for his own use, and lectured on electricity using instruments of his own making.<ref>[[Samuel Redgrave]]. ''[http://www.archive.org/details/adictionaryarti00redggoog A Dictionary of Artists]'' (G. Bell, 1878) p328.</ref>
Pether was also a clever inventor, constructing telescopes and microscopes for his own use, and lectured on electricity using instruments of his own making.<ref name="DNB" /><ref name="Redgrave">{{Cite book |last=Redgrave |first=Samuel |url=http://archive.org/details/adictionaryarti00redggoog |title=A dictionary of artists of the English School : painters, sculptors, architects, engravers and ornamentists, with notices of their lives and work |date=1878 |publisher=Bell |location=London |pages=328}}</ref> He also invented his own type of pencil.<ref name="NPG" />


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[[File:Selenicereus grandiflorus00.jpg|thumb|''[[Nightblooming cereus|The Night Blowing Cereus]]'' (flower painted by [[Philip Reinagle]], moonlit background by Pether)]]
Although his art was popular, Pether was never able to do more than supply the daily wants of his large family, and when attacked by a lingering disease, which incapacitated him for work and eventually caused his death, he was reduced to great poverty. He died at [[Southampton]] on 3 April 1812, leaving a widow, Elizabeth, and nine children quite destitute; and the fact that they were unable to obtain any assistance from the [[Artists' Benevolent Fund]] was made the occasion of a fierce attack upon the management of that society. Elizabeth Pether later went into business with a partner as "Pether & Co.", selling [[Graphite|black lead]] and chalk pencils.<ref>[http://www.npg.org.uk/research/programmes/directory-of-suppliers/p.php British artists' suppliers, 1650-1950 - P] (National Portrait Gallery, London).</ref>
Although his art was popular, Pether was never able to do more than supply the daily wants of his large family, and when attacked by a lingering disease, which incapacitated him for work and eventually caused his death, he was reduced to great poverty.<ref name="DNB" /> He died at [[Southampton]] on 13 April 1812, leaving a widow, Elizabeth, and nine children quite destitute;<ref name="DNB" /><ref name="Redgrave" /> and the fact that they were unable to obtain any assistance from the [[Artists' Benevolent Fund]] was made the occasion of a fierce attack upon the management of that society.<ref name="DNB" /> Elizabeth Pether later went into business with a partner Thomas Thornton as "Pether & Co.", selling [[Graphite|black lead]] and chalk pencils. An advertisement in ''The Times'' in 1816 stated of the instruments: "the leads being freed by a chymical process from all impurities, and scratching particles".<ref name="NPG">{{Cite web |title=British artists' suppliers, 1650-1950 - P: Penther & Co. |url=https://www.npg.org.uk/research/programmes/directory-of-suppliers/p.php |access-date=2022-11-15 |website=National Portrait Gallery}}</ref>


Abraham Pether is known in the art world as "Old" Pether, to distinguish him from his sons [[Sebastian Pether]] (1790-1844) and [[Henry Pether]] (fl. 1828-1865), also landscape artists who became known for their moonlit scenes. It is thought that Abraham had a brother called Thomas Pether (they are recorded as sharing a residence); the latter was a wax modeller who exhibited portraits in wax with the Free Society of Artists from 1772-81.
Abraham Pether and his sons [[Sebastian Pether|Sebastian]] (1793–1844) and [[Henry Pether]] (1800-1880), specialised in moonlit scenes.<ref name="TH">{{Cite book |last=Trinity House. |url=http://archive.org/details/trinity-house-the-collection |title=Trinity House: The Collection |publisher=Trinity House |location=New York, London |pages=68}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Maas |first=Jeremy |url=http://archive.org/details/victorianpainter0000maas |title=Victorian painters |date=1988 |publisher=London : Barrie & Jenkins |isbn=978-0-7126-2121-2 |page=50}}</ref> It is thought that Abraham had a brother called Thomas Pether (they are recorded as sharing a residence); the latter was a wax modeller who exhibited portraits in wax with the Free Society of Artists from 1772 to 1781.<ref name="DNB" />

==See also==
* [[Night in paintings (Western art)]]


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}
*{{DNB}}


==External links==
==External links==
{{Commons category|Abraham Pether}}
*[http://www.gac.culture.gov.uk/search/Artist.asp?maker_id=116547 Paintings by Abraham Pether] ([[Government Art Collection]])
*[https://artcollection.culture.gov.uk/?s=%22Abraham+Pether%22&display=artworkonly Paintings by Abraham Pether] ([[Government Art Collection]])
*[http://www.artnet.com/artist/632449/abraham-pether.html Abraham Pether on Artnet]
*[http://www.thomasfineart.net/gallery/antique/biog/pether.htm 'A moonlight continental landscape] (Oil on canvas - Thomas Fine art)
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20110714024820/http://mailchristies.com/LotFinder/lot_details.aspx?intObjectID=5309626 A moonlit river landscape with cattle on a track] (Oil on canvas, 1793 – [[Christie's]])
*[http://www.bridgemanartondemand.com/artist/6553/Abraham_Pether 2 paintings by Abraham Pether] (Bridgeman art library)
*[http://mailchristies.com/LotFinder/lot_details.aspx?intObjectID=5309626 A moonlit river landscape with cattle on a track] (Oil on canvas, 1793 - [[Christie's]])
*[http://www.hullcc.gov.uk/museumcollections/collections/search-results/display.php?irn=760&newsearch=new&person=Pether%2C+Rev+Abraham&keywords=&title=&place=&date=&material=&accessionnumber=&Sender=List&Page=1 Moonlight Scene] (Hull Museum Collections)
*[http://www.hullcc.gov.uk/museumcollections/collections/search-results/display.php?irn=760&newsearch=new&person=Pether%2C+Rev+Abraham&keywords=&title=&place=&date=&material=&accessionnumber=&Sender=List&Page=1 Moonlight Scene] (Hull Museum Collections)


{{Authority control}}
{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->

| NAME = Pether, Abraham
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION =
| DATE OF BIRTH = 1756
| PLACE OF BIRTH =
| DATE OF DEATH = 13 April 1812
| PLACE OF DEATH =
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pether, Abraham}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pether, Abraham}}
[[Category:English painters]]
[[Category:English landscape painters]]
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[[Category:Landscape painters]]
[[Category:People from Chichester]]
[[Category:People from Chichester]]
[[Category:1756 births]]
[[Category:1756 births]]
[[Category:1812 deaths]]
[[Category:1812 deaths]]
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[[Category:Moon in art]]
[[Category:Artists from London]]
[[Category:Artists from Southampton]]
[[Category:English inventors]]

Latest revision as of 09:09, 8 March 2024

Evening Scene With Full Moon and Persons (1801)

Abraham Pether (1756 – 13 April 1812) was an English landscape painter, recognised for his skill in depicting moonlit scenes. He was also a talented musician, inventor, mathematician and philosopher.[1]

Life and work

[edit]
Old Drury Lane Theatre on fire, 1809 (detail)

Abraham was born in Chichester in Sussex in 1756,[1][2] and was a cousin of notable engraver William Pether.[1] In childhood he showed a great talent for music, and at the age of nine played the organ in one of the Chichester churches.[1]

Adopting art as his profession, he became a pupil of George Smith,[1][2] whom he greatly surpassed. He painted river and mountain scenery, with classical buildings, in a pleasing though artificial style but his reputation rests on his moonlight subjects, which attracted much admiration, and earned for him the sobriquet of "Moonlight" Pether.[1] He was partial to the combination of moonlight and firelight, as in such subjects as Eruption of Vesuvius, Ship on Fire in a Gale at Night, An Iron foundry by Moonlight etc., which he painted with fine feeling and harmony of colour.[1][2]

Rest on the flight into Egypt

Pether was a major exhibitor with both the Free Society of Artists and the Incorporated Society of Artists from 1773 to 1791, and at the Royal Academy from 1784 to 1811.[1][2] He was a member of the Incorporated Society of Artists.[2] His "Harvest Moon", which was at the Academy in 1795, was highly praised at the time.[1][2] He had an extensive knowledge of scientific subjects, and in his moonlight pictures the astronomical conditions are always correctly observed.[1]

Pether was also a clever inventor, constructing telescopes and microscopes for his own use, and lectured on electricity using instruments of his own making.[1][2] He also invented his own type of pencil.[3]

The Night Blowing Cereus (flower painted by Philip Reinagle, moonlit background by Pether)

Although his art was popular, Pether was never able to do more than supply the daily wants of his large family, and when attacked by a lingering disease, which incapacitated him for work and eventually caused his death, he was reduced to great poverty.[1] He died at Southampton on 13 April 1812, leaving a widow, Elizabeth, and nine children quite destitute;[1][2] and the fact that they were unable to obtain any assistance from the Artists' Benevolent Fund was made the occasion of a fierce attack upon the management of that society.[1] Elizabeth Pether later went into business with a partner Thomas Thornton as "Pether & Co.", selling black lead and chalk pencils. An advertisement in The Times in 1816 stated of the instruments: "the leads being freed by a chymical process from all impurities, and scratching particles".[3]

Abraham Pether and his sons Sebastian (1793–1844) and Henry Pether (1800-1880), specialised in moonlit scenes.[4][5] It is thought that Abraham had a brother called Thomas Pether (they are recorded as sharing a residence); the latter was a wax modeller who exhibited portraits in wax with the Free Society of Artists from 1772 to 1781.[1]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o  One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Lee, Sidney, ed. (1896). "Pether, Abraham". Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 45. London: Smith, Elder & Co. p. 80.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Redgrave, Samuel (1878). A dictionary of artists of the English School : painters, sculptors, architects, engravers and ornamentists, with notices of their lives and work. London: Bell. p. 328.
  3. ^ a b "British artists' suppliers, 1650-1950 - P: Penther & Co". National Portrait Gallery. Retrieved 15 November 2022.
  4. ^ Trinity House. Trinity House: The Collection. New York, London: Trinity House. p. 68.
  5. ^ Maas, Jeremy (1988). Victorian painters. London : Barrie & Jenkins. p. 50. ISBN 978-0-7126-2121-2.
[edit]
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