Autograph Letter Signed ‘John Jackson’ to his brother in Lastingham (Yorkshire), discussing the repairs and alterations to the chancel of Lastingham Church, giving his opinion on the supervision of the works, etc by JACKSON, John

London, 27 July 1827. 1 page 9 x 7 inches, in good condition, some light toning, integral address leaf. John Jackson RA (born in Lastingham 1778 – 1831), English painter who specialised in portraits. By 1807 Jackson's reputation as a portrait painter was assured, and he made the transition to oils steadily, if not easily, regularly forwarding paintings to Somerset House. After a visit to the Netherlands and Flanders with Edmund Phipps in 1816, he accompanied Sir Francis Chantrey on a trip to Switzerland, Rome, Florence and Venice in 1819. In Rome he was elected to the Academy of St Luke. His portrait of Antonio Canova, painted on this trip, was regarded as outstanding. Jackson was a prolific portraitist, strongly showing the influence of Sir Thomas Lawrence and Henry Raeburn in his work. His sitters included the Duke of Wellington, the explorer Sir John Franklin and some noted Wesleyan ministers.