Snitterfield, 1686 – London, 13 November 1764
John Wootton was an english painter of sportive subjects, battle scenes, landscapes and illustrator.
It is believed that he started his carreer as page of the Dukes of Beaufort and that he was able to get his artistic education from Jan Wyck, even if very little is known about his origins.
He was in London in 1706 and in 1711 appears to be a founding father of the Academy of Painting and Drawing. In 1717 he was elected administrator of the Virtuosi Club of St. Luke’s.
Among his numerous patrons we remember King George II, Sir Robert Wallpole and high members of the aristocracy.
John Wootton died in London on 13 November 1764. Examples of his animal painting can be found in the Tate Gallery, London, the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Richmond, the Yale Center for British Art, in the Elizabethan Great Hall at Longleat and in The Portland Collection at the Harley Gallery and Foundation.
