James Johnson (1802/3-1834) 'I never met a young man who I more highly esteemed, there was not a particle of meanness in his composition indeed his pride was so great that it belonged to the melancholy malady which ultimately caused his death'. (Francis Danby) James Johnson was born near Bristol. He was a fine topographical draughtsman, fluent watercolourist, and an inspired Romantic landscape artist. He exhibited landscapes at the Royal Academy and the British Institution. Johnson followed Danby to London in 1825, after having been involved in the preparations for the Bristol artists' show at the Bristol Institution in 1824-25. However, the high cost of London life caused him to return to the west country after a year. He had already provided topographical work for the Bristol antiquarian, G. W. Braikenridge, and in 1828 he produced a superb series of church interiors for him. He then taught drawing in Bath. Returning to Bristol again, Johnson had difficulties selling work. He seems to have suffered from recurring bouts of depression. He was described by Dr King in a letter as having had a 'paralitic stroke', from which he never fully recovered. He died tragically young, aged 31, after throwing himself from his sanatorium window in Bath.