English landscape painter, John Berney Crome, was an important member of the Norwich School of Painters and the son of John ‘Old’ Crome, one of its founders.

Hailing from Norwich, Crome was tutored by his father and undoubtedly learned to sketch from an early age amid the picturesque Norfolk countryside. However, it seems that ‘Old’ Crome was keen to furnish his son with a range of career opportunities, as, alongside his studies as an artist, he also undertook a formal education.

Astonishingly, at the age of 12, his work was shown at the Norwich Society of Artists, where he continued to exhibit for the next 24 years, becoming its Vice-President in 1818 and later its President on several occasions.

Formed in 1803, the Norwich Society of Artists was Britain’s first art movement outside of major cities, and sought to create an encouraging environment where artists could meet to discuss ideas. One of its key tenets was the "enquiry into the rise, progress and present state of painting, architecture, and sculpture, with a view to point out the best methods of study to attain the greater perfection in these arts."

‘Old’ Crome was one its founders and became a highly respected figure within the movement. His inspiration was derived from the Dutch landscape masters of the Golden Age, such as Meindert Hobbema (1638-1709), and Jacob van Ruisdael (1628/9-1682). Gnarled woods, dense forests, rutted winding tracks, and distant church spires breaking above the horizon. He essentially took the tried and tested compositions of the Dutch and applied them to the local scenery. Norfolk, like The Netherlands, was known for its mills, flat topography and broad skies.

Around 1815, ‘Young’ Crome, evidently now surrounded by self-taught artists of note, assisted his father with teaching and a few years later was appointed the landscape painter to the Duke of Sussex. Gaining aristocratic patronage at such a young age was a considerable advantage and paved the way for an ever-increasing circle of willing buyers.

Following his father’s death in 1821, he moved into the family house in Gildengate Street, where he established a studio and continued to elevate his career. He was particularly known for nocturnes, as we see here, and developed quite a reputation for them.

John Berney Crome, Nocturne With Fishing Boats (c. 1830)

His works were shown at the Royal Academy, British Institution and Society of British Artists in London, alongside numerous seasoned professionals who’d undertaken formal tuition.

It’s often difficult to ascertain the location of his views, but he painted both at home and abroad. His overseas sojourns included trips to France, Holland, Belgium and Italy. But he was equally adept at capturing the picturesque scenery of his home county.

Later in life, apparently due to his extravagant habits, he was forced to declare himself bankrupt, which resulted in the contents of his father’s house being sold off along with many of the works in his collection. Despite this, he remained a man of “genial character and jovial disposition”. He continued to teach.

He’s represented in numerous public collections, including at the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford, Government Art Collection, The Barber Institute of Fine Arts, and Norwich Castle Museum.

Exhibited

Royal Academy, British Institution, Society of British Artists, Edinburgh Society of Artists.

Public Collections

Ashmolean Museum in Oxford, English Heritage at Kenwood, Government Art Collection, National Trust at Peckover House, Oxford Town Hall, Royal Albert Memorial Museum & Art Gallery, Rozelle House Galleries, The Barber Institute of Fine Arts, The Stanley & Audrey Burton Gallery at the University of Leeds, Williamson Art Gallery & Museum, Yale Center for British Art, and Norwich Castle Museum.

Timeline

1794

Born in Norwich, Norfolk, to John Crome, the artist, and Phoebe Berney.

1806

Debuted at the Norwich Society of Artists, where he became a member.

1816

Accompanied his school friend, the artist George Vincent, on a trip to Paris.

1818

Appointed Vice-President of the Norwich Society of Artists, and later became its President.

1819

Met his Royal Highness The Duke of Sussex when President of The Norwich School of Painters.

1821

Death of father.

1824

Married Dorcas Sarah Burcham in Colegate, Norwich.

1827

Widowed.

1830

Married Sarah Ann Clipperton in Blofield, Norwich.

1831

Bankruptcy.

1832

Lived in Colegate, Norwich.

1835

Moved to Great Yarmouth.

1842

Died.

Reviews

Bell’s Weekly Messenger, 1839

“No. 223. ‘The Two Mills-Moonlight.’ J. B. Crome - This artist has made moonlight his peculiar study, and certainly no one has been more successful in his delineation of nature at that period. There is always introduced that tone of atmosphere in his pictures, which conveys the solemn stillness of night, without that heavy blackness which too often obscures the modern school in that line of art, to which the subject before us is an exception.”

Obituaries

Norwich Mercury, Saturday 17 September (1842)

“On Thursday last, at Yarmouth, in the 49th year of his age, Mr. J. B. Crome, eldest son of the late eminent artist, the founder of the Norwich school. Mr. J. B. Crome was educated at the Free School of this city, where under Dr. Foster, and subsequently under the Rev. E. Valpy, he shewed much talent and attained considerable classical acquirement. On the termination of his education he pursued his father's art, and taught drawing in this city and throughout the county.

As an artist Mr. Crome's talent was of no mean order. He made moonlights his peculiar study, and at the time of this his early death had elevated himself to considerable celebrity in this branch. In private life Lohri Berney Crome was greatly and deservedly esteemed for his generous kind-hearted nature. The writer of this brief notice was his play-fellow in childhood, and the friendship then formed continued to the last. He suffered dreadfully from an incurable disease, but his spirits were buoyant and enabled him to maintain much of his original vivacity amid his suffering. He had an elegant and classical turn of mind and deserved a better fortune. Mr.Crome was twice married, and leaves a widow but no children.”