1809 - 1842
landscape and animal painter, son of Joseph Rhodes - died in Leeds
Leeds Worthies (1865) p.395
"John N. Rhodes, Esq.
A promising young artist, of Leeds, died December 3rd, 1842. His father was also a painter of established repute in Yorkshire. From his earliest youth Mr. Rhodes showed strong indications of that taste and application in the arts by which he afterwards distinguished himself. He was a close and accurate observer, and an admirable imitator of natural objects, even in his childhood. These indications of talent were not, however, encouraged by his father, who had experienced the up-hill work of a professional artist's career, and the blighting disappointments arising from inadequate remuneration for the labours of his pencil. He therefore endeavoured to direct his attention to some more lucrative and certain means of obtaining a living; but when the time of decision came, no persuasion could prevail upon the boy to be anything but a painter. He was then allowed free scope with his pencil and crayon (for as yet he had not been allowed the use of colours), and assisted his father in making lessons for the use of his pupils in teaching. With his pencil, chalk, or sepia, he would luxuriate during the long winter's evenings; and sketches of wonderful power and beauty floated away from his fingers in a manner absolutely amazing. But it was his oil-paintings which established his fame, and brought out his full powers of colouring and design. The subjects he usually selected were from humble life - groups of cattle, with occasional figures of rustics in their ordinary garb. How he revelled in a green lane, with its wild weeds, brambles, and creeping plants! With what wonderful beauty and fidelity he painted the wild flower dangling from the old wall, or perched in the cottage window! Many of Mr. Rhodes's pictures appeared in the first exhibitions in the kingdom, and met with deserved encomium. Those of his works which appeared in the London exhibitions were highly praised by the London press. We believed that his principal patrons in his native neighbourhood were - Mrs James Brown, of Harehills, near Leeds; Mr. Staniforth Beckett, late of Barnsley; and Mr. Neale of Newstead Hall, near Wakefield, who possess many of his best pictures. His shy and retired habits, however, rendered him far less known than he ought to have been. Some years ago Mr. Rhodes removed to London; his fame as an artist was rapidly rising, and he was himself buoyant with aspiring hope of future eminence and emolument, when, like Girtin, Liverseedge, and Bonington, he was attacked with inflammation in the eyes, and general bad health, the consequence of his close study and application in his art. He returned to Leeds in the hopes that his native air would revive him. A partial improvement took place, and several beautiful pictures, painted in the neighbourhood during his sojourn, though under the most afflicting circumstances, bear ample testimony to his intense devotion to his art. Like Girtin, he worked on in spite of his affliction, even to the day of his death, when and attack of epilepsy overpowered his feeble constitution, and finished his career at the early age of thirty-three".
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