(1750 - 1824), painter, studied under Benjamin West; RA schools 1769; exh. FS 1768, RA 1770 - 1819 (less 1771, 1774 - 6, 1784, 1813 - 15), BI 1806 - 10; ARA 1795.
1774 - 5 [dep. Exeter, 1 Nov. 1773] Genoa, Leghorn, Rome (3 Feb. 1774 - ), Albano (27 Aug.), Marino (1 - 3 Sep.), Lerici (10 Sep.), Tivoli (Oct.? 1774), Naples, Florence (May 1775), Parma (Jul.)
John Downman went to Italy with Joseph Wright of Derby and his wife and Richard Hurleston (see Joseph Wright). Hayward recorded Downman's arrival in Rome in 1774 with Hurlestone.1 There are water-colour views by him taken from in and around Rome (Albano, Marino, Tivoli, Lerici) dated between 25 March and October 1774, besides a Part of Mount Vesuvius dated 1774, indicating a visit to Naples.2 In May 1775 he was in Florence, copying van Dyck, Rubens and ancient sculptures in the Uffizi, having been introduced by Patch.3 In July he was in Parma, whence Mrs Downman and Mrs Wright sent their greetings to Humphry in Florence (apparently the only reference to a Mrs Downman's presence in Italy).4 Downman may have accompanied Wright most of the time he was in Italy.5
1. Hayward List, 15, 22. 2. Ex Paul Opp? coll.; notes in RBF. 3. Borroni 1985, 53 - 4; 1987, 136, 138, 150. 4. W. Bemrose, Wright, 30. 5. See B. Nicolson, Wright of Derby, 1:7n5.