Story, John James (1827-1900)
A local artist from Nottingham in the northern midlands of England, Story was born in 1827 and baptized at St. Mary’s Church, Nottingham, on 23rd December of that year. His father, George, was a “cordwainer” (shoemaker). Little is known about his early career but he is mentioned in the local census as living in Burton Street in 1861 with his parents and sisters; he is described as a widower aged 32 with his profession listed as “artist.” This is the period when the Garibaldi Panorama was being exhibited and the information matches the notation in the front of the manuscript narration: “J.J.Story, Burton Street, Nottingham, 7th Sep. 1860.”
Ten years later, he is remarried, to Jane, and living with his parents in Great Alfred Street, Nottingham. In the next census of 1881, he and Jane along with their daughter Emily Jackson, are living at 367 St. Ann’s Well Road, and his profession is listed as a “photographic artist.” In 1891, he is at the same address but Emily is listed as his niece, and his profession as a “landscape artist.”
In terms of his artistic career, he exhibited occasionally at the “open” exhibitions in the Nottingham castle annual show. There are entries for 1881, 1885, 1886, 1892 and 1893 (see below); he is listed in the latter year as living at Thorneywood Cottages, 367 St. Ann’s Well Road. He also exhibited in 1895 when his address was 36, Moffat Street, Nottingham (still in the St. Ann’s area). It appears that two relatives, Blanche and Mary Story, also exhibited.
Exhibition entries for John James, Blanche and Mary Story:
- Third annual exhibition of pictures in oil and water colour by Local Artists, 2.5.1881 - 30.7.1881 Story, Blanche, The Forest, Nottm, - 210, 242, Story, J. J., Thorneywood Cottage, St. Ann's Road, Nottm. - 30: Oil painting, "To the land of the hereafter", £17 Story, Mary S., The Forest, Nottm - 247
- Fourth annual exhibition of pictures in oil and water colour by Local Artists, 1.5.1882 - 7.8.1882 Story, Miss Blanche, The Forest, Nottm. - 25, 33, 43 Story, Miss Mary S., The Forest, Nottm. - 27, 32
- Fifth annual exhibition of pictures in oil and water colour by Local Artists, 5.1883 - 8.1883 Story, Blanch, The Forest, Nottingham. - 30, 41, 63 Story, Mary S., The Forest, Nottingham. - 73
- Sixth annual exhibition of pictures in oil and water colour by Local Artists, 5.1884 - 8.1884 Story, Blanche, The Forest, Nottingham. - 77, 127 Story, Mary S., The Forest, Nottingham. - 22, 102, 103, 116
- Seventh annual exhibition of pictures in oil and water colour by Local Artists, 5.1885 - 8.1885 Story, Miss M.S., The Forest - 15, 60, 75, 81 Story, Miss B., The Forest - 18, 25, 31, 92 Story, J.J., 367, Thorneywood Cottages, St. Ann's Road - 189, 222, 290. 189: "The Snowdon Range, from the hills on the Carnarvon Road", 4 gns; 222 "Bradda Head, Isle of Man" 3 gns. The Nottingham Express (1.5.1885) said of this painting "the truth of [this] elegant little canvas will be vouched for by those who have visited that western isle." 290: "Where the little fishes live." 1gn.
- Eighth annual exhibition of pictures in oil and water colour by Local Artists, 5.1886 - 8.1886 Story, Miss M. S., The Forest-22, 47, 72, 114 Story, Miss Blanche, The Forest-79, 81, 88, 90 Story, J.J., 367, Thorneywood Cottages, St. Ann's Road-278, 305
- Ninth annual exhibition of pictures in oil and water colour by Local Artists, 5.1887 - 8.1887 Story, Mary S., The Forest - 6 Story, J.J., 367, Thorneywood Cottage, St, Ann's-road - 178, 222
- Tenth annual exhibition of pictures in oil and water colour by Local Artists, 5.1888 - 8.1888 Story, Blanche Miss, The Forest - 85 Story, M.S., Miss, The Forest - 9, 11
- Fourteenth annual exhibition of pictures ... by local artists, including works by members of the Nottingham Society of Artists, 5.1892 - 8.1892 Story, J.J., 367, St. Ann's Well Road. - 182
- Fifteenth annual exhibition of pictures ... by local artists, including works by members of the Nottingham Society of Artists, 5.1893 - 8.1893
- [17th annual] exhibition of pictures ... by local artists, including works by members of the Nottingham Society of Artists, 5.1895 - 8.1895 Story, J.J., 36, Moffat Street.- 149 Story, J. J., 367, St. Ann's Well Road. - 140, 161.
- Twenty-first Annual Exhibition of pictures in oil and water colours by Local Artists, opened 6.5.1899 Story, J.J., 36, Moffat Street - 204
- Twenty-second annual exhibition of pictures in oil and water colours by local artists, 5.1900 - 8.1900 Story, J.J., The late - 292, 324 [No mention of Story's work in press notices of the exhibition]
Information on John James Story was supplied by Michael Cooper, Nottingham Museums Registrar, Sarah Skinner, Keeper of Art at Nottingham Castle Museum and Art Gallery, Christina Raven Conn, and Dorothy Ritchie, Local Studies Library, Nottingham Central Library