Joshua Cristall (1767–1847) was a founder, and then president of, the Society of Painters in Water-Colours. Cristall was unusual in being primarily a figure painter, his compositions being distinct among his contemporaries for focusing on the human figure. His work is also celebrated for a pleasing simplicity and 'broad' painting style.
Born at Camborne in Cornwall, Cristall's artistic abilities were supported by his mother but discouraged by his father. He found employment as a china painter at the Staffordshire Potteries, but finding that too monotonous, he went to London where he suffered great privation in pursuit of life as an artist. He gained admission to the Royal Academy schools and became acquainted with Dr Monro, through whom he met rising watercolour artists of the day. In 1805, he became a founding member of the Society of Painters in Water-Colours and made the first public exhibition of his works. He later became president of the Society and was always an active supporter of the Society.
Despite the high regard in which he was held during his lifetime, Cristall was largely forgotten after his death, only rediscovered in 1950 by Graham Reynolds who wrote:
'Cristall was an accomplished draughtsman of the human figure … It is his broad manner which now forms the basis of the continuing appeal of his work. Cristall is the first to bring into watercolour that squareness and concentration on the basic facts of form which is an anticipation of Cezanne and Cubism. In my opinion we may find in him the basis and origin of Cotman's first and greatest style.'
