James Northcote / James Northcote (22.10.1746-1831) – English artist, member of the Royal Academy of Arts.

James Northcote was born in Plymouth on October 22, 1746, in the family of Samuel Northcote, a poor watchmaker. He was an apprentice to his father. The grown-up boy worked with his father, and in his free time he was engaged in drawing and painting. In 1769, he left his father and began to earn a living by drawing portraits. Four years later, Northcote moved to London and entered the studio of Joshua Reynolds. At the same time, he attended classes at the Royal Academy of Arts.

In 1775, Northcote left Reynolds’ school and returned to Devon. Having saved up the necessary amount, the artist went to study in Italy. Three years later, Northcote returned to England. After a short visit to his native places, the artist settled in London, where his rivals were Henry Fuseli and John Opie. Northcote did not disdain the creation of erotic drawings, engravings of which were widely distributed, for example, the popular series of ten engravings “Modest Girl and the Libertine” (1796).

In 1786, Northcote was elected a member of the Academy, and the following spring – a full academician. He sponsored the admission of Thomas Sewall Robins to the Royal Academy Schools in 1829. The artist died in 1831 in London.

“The Chess Players” is the most significant painting by James Northcote (1807). The mysterious plot and the atmosphere of theatrical performance distinguish it from other works of the artist. There are about 2000 works by Northcote.