“The Daily Read”, 19th century pastel painting, attributed to John Burr

Attributed to John P. Burr (1831 – 1893) 

“The Daily Read”

Pastel on paper, laid on canvas (arched mount): 31 x 26.5 cm.
Monogrammed lower right
Framed dimensions: 45 x 39 cm.
Likely painted in 1870s

This charming, calm pastel painting featuring a middle-aged man, probably a factory worker, intently reading the daily newspaper, can be attributed to the 19th century Scottish genre painter John Burr. As well as bearing the monogram ‘J.B’ lower right, the style and subject matter is consistent with Burr’s distinctive handling and interpretation of genre subjects featuring normal people.

Burr was a Scottish oil and watercolour painter of genre scenes, portraits and landscapes. At the age of fourteen John Burr began painting portraits of well-to-do people in small Scottish towns. After study at the Trustees’ Academy in Edinburgh, Burr painted in Edinburgh until 1861. In that year he and his younger brother Alexander H. Burr (1835 – 1899) established themselves as painters in London. John Burr first exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1862 and worked in London until 1892. During his career in London he exhibited 18 paintings at the Royal Academy, 1 at the British Institution, 3 at the Grosvenor Gallery, 35 at the Society of British Artists, 18 at the Royal Water Colour Society, and numerous paintings in other locations in London. He also exhibited in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Birmingham, Liverpool and Manchester.

The pastel is framed and behind glass, the mount being arched. It is ready to hang, though a cleaning of the mount would be recommended.

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