Identity:

John P. Burr was a genre, portrait and landscape painter. He was the brother of the genre and historical painter Alexander Hohenlohe Burr (1835-1899).

Life:

Burr studied at the Trustees' Academy in Edinburgh. He worked there before establishing himself in London, where he stayed until 1892. In London he exhibited at the Royal Academy, British Institution, Royal Institute of Oil Painters, Royal Water Colour Society, Fine Art Society, Arthur Tooth and Sons Gallery, Grosvenor Gallery, Grafton Gallery and Society of British Artists, a society for which JW served as President from 1886 to 1888. He also exhibited at the Royal Scottish Academy, Glasgow Institute of the Fine Arts, Royal Society of Artists in Birmingham, Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool and Manchester City Art Gallery. His works include The 5th of November (Glasgow Museums and Art Gallery), which bears an interesting relation to JW's paintings of fireworks.

Burr was elected a member of the Society of British Artists in 1875 and of the Royal Institute of Oil Painters in 1883. He was also named an associate of the Royal Water Colour Society. He was JW's predecessor as President of the Society of British Artists until the summer of 1886 when he resigned.

Bibliography:

Bénézit, E., Dictionnaire des Peintres, Sculpteurs, Dessinateurs et Graveurs, 8 vols, Paris, 1956-61; Johnson, J. and A. Gruetzner, Dictionary of British Artists 1880-1940, Woodbridge, 1980.