Born in Dundee, Scotland, in 1851, John Ford Paterson studied at the Royal Scottish Academy Schools, Edinburgh, and exhibited at the Academy (c. 1869-71). He migrated to Australia and arrived in Melbourne in 1872. Paterson was based in Melbourne for a period of three years, during which time he developed a friendship with Louis Buvelot. Paterson was influenced by Buvelot’s practice and adopted the plein air method of working that the Swiss artist is credited with introducing to Australia.
John Ford Paterson returned to Edinburgh in 1875 where he studied landscape painting. He remained in Great Britain for nine years and returned to Australia in 1884 to live permanently. In Melbourne, Paterson renewed his friendship with Buvelot and focused his artistic practice on the depiction of Australian landscapes. He also worked with members of the Heidelberg School. In the 1890s, Paterson encountered financial difficulties and turned to poultry farming at Ringwood, east of Melbourne. It is likely that 'Evening at Croydon’ was painted during this period.
Paterson was an exhibiting member of the Victorian Academy of Arts and a founding member (1886) and treasurer (1887) of the Australian Artists’ Association. He was also actively involved with the Victorian Artists’ Society as a founding member (1888), president (1902) and regular exhibitor until his death. He was a trustee of the National Gallery of Victoria from 1903-12 and a member of the Melbourne Savage Club from 1900-12. John Ford Paterson died in Melbourne in 1912.
- Writers:
- Sullivan, Lisa
The Ian Potter Museum of Art, The University of Melbourne
- Date written:
- 2012
- Last updated:
- 2012
