James Poole was a landscape painter known for far-reaching mountainous views and expansive river scenes. He trained under Joseph Barber (1757-1811) alongside contemporaries Thomas Creswick, Thomas Baker and FH Henshaw but had his own distinctive style. In 1886, his obituary in the Lichfield Mercury describes an affable gentleman who was well-respected by his peers.
“Personally Mr Poole had many attractive qualities. He was singularly modest and unassuming, kindly in feeling, courteous in manner, and when discussing his own subjects his conversation never failed to interest and instruct those who were privileged to share in it. More than one lover of landscape art in Birmingham will recall with pleasure a friendly talk with him in the studio of his friend Mr Henshaw, and those who met him there always regretted that his visits were of such rare occurrence.”
It describes his works as possessing “remarkable purity of tone, careful finish, accurate drawing, and that indefinable, inexpressible charm which indicates a close study and a true love of nature.”
Today, James Poole is represented in several public collections including Sheffield Museum, The National Library of Wales, Clifton Park Museum and the National Trust.
1803
Born in Birmingham.
Studied under Joseph Barber.
1886
Died in Sheffield.
Museum and Gallery Holdings
Sheffield (AG): two watercolours
Auction Records
London, 4 Feb 1972: Wooded Landscape (1855) Gns 500
London, 23 Oct 1981: View of the Jungfrau (1857, oil on canvas, 24¼ × 36 ins/61.5 × 91.5 cm) GBP 1,000
York, 12 Nov 1991: Sheepdog and Herd on the Banks of a River (oil on canvas, 25½ × 35½ ins/65 × 90 cm) GBP 2,200
Perth, 30 Aug 1994: Castle and Ruins near a Scottish Loch (watercolour, 14¾ × 23 ins/37.5 × 57.5 cm) GBP 747
London, 13 March 1997: The Lowdore Falls above Derwent (oil on canvas, 18 × 27 ins/45.8 × 68.6 cm) GBP 2,600
Newmarket, 17 Nov 1999: Figures Resting by Birch-lined Stream (oil on canvas, 9 × 8 ins/24 × 20 cm) GBP 1,450
London, 29 Nov 2000: Figures Seated on a Rocky Ledge Overlooking a Lakeland Valley (oil on canvas, 24 × 39 ins/62 × 99 cm) GBP 1,850
Zurich, 2 May 2001: Gutenfels on the Rhine (oil on canvas, 26 × 36 ins/66 × 91 cm) CHF 3,400
Edinburgh, 24 May 2002: Woodcutter's Cottage (oil on canvas, 36 × 30 ins/91 × 75 cm) GBP 1,500
Nottingham, 27 March 2003: Zermatt and the Matterhorn (watercolour and gouache heightened with white, 10 × 14 ins/25 × 36 cm) GBP 2,400
Send, 11 Dec 2003: Ashopton, Derbyshire. Borrowdale, Streams with Figures Fly Fishing (oil on canvas, a pair, 16 × 21 ins/41 × 53 cm) GBP 1,050
