Student Artwork Guide
Copyright This work is in the public domain. John Buckler died in 1851; copyright lasts 70 years after the artist’s death, so it ended in 1921.
In context
The Spanish Pointer — John Buckler
Row above: the years. Row below: how old the artist was at the start and at the end of each span — 0 at birth, 81 at death.
Shaded: the lifetime of John Buckler (1770–1851) every dated painting, decade by decade
This record has no exact year on file — using the artist's lifetime and the work's style, what decade would you guess?
Pick one work above: name two things it shares with this one, and one thing that's different.
More works to set beside this one: allpaintingsstore.com/en/art/similar/john-buckler-the-spanish-pointer-9DHEXN-en/
Measured from the image
Main colour
Putty #dbcab2
Catalogued palette
These colours inside the artist’s whole palette Find other paintings by colour
The ten leading countries
Find the three darkest countries on the map. Is the museum that keeps this painting in any of them? Write down one reason people far away might look at it.
Together these works take 100.0% of all the attention this artist's paintings received over the last twelve months. The catalogue holds 31 works by this artist, of which 9 were looked at at least once. This painting has not been looked at yet in that time — it closes the list without a rank. The same counts, month by month
Bars measure attention, not quality. Pick the work at the top and this one: name one thing that might make a painting famous beyond how well it is painted.
Artist and museum
Born in Southampton, United Kingdom
Born: Southampton, United Kingdom (1770)
Died: 1851, Newington, London
John Buckler, Snr. was a British artist and occasional architect best known for his prolific drawings of churches and historic buildings across Britain. His meticulous records provide invaluable insight into the architectural landscape of the early 19th century, preserving details of structures that have since been altered or lost entirely. Born in Calbourne, Isle of Wight, Buckler’s life was a fascinating blend of administrative duties and artistic pursuits.
Magdalen College Oxford: At the age of 15, Buckler became clerk to the steward of Magdalen College, Oxford. This role initiated a lifelong connection with the college's London estates, requiring him to manage properties and oversee building plans.
Bailiff & Collector of Rents: Around 1801, he became bailiff and collector of rents for Magdalen College in Freeman’s Court, London, and Southwark, a position he held until his retirement in 1849. This provided him with both financial stability and considerable free time to dedicate to his artistic endeavors.
Architectural Projects: Buckler also practiced as an architect until 1830, undertaking notable commissions including Halkyn Castle (1822–27) for the Earl Grosvenor, the tower of St. John’s Church in Theale, Berkshire (1827–28), Glastonbury Priory (1829–30), and Poll Park (c. 1828). His work demonstrated an early adoption of the Gothic Revival style.
Family Legacy: Buckler's sons, John Chessell Buckler and George Buckler, also became architects and artists, contributing to a family tradition of architectural documentation and design.
Early Works: Buckler’s artistic journey began with aquatints of Magdalen College in 1797, followed by an engraving of Lincoln Cathedral in 1799 – the first in a series documenting all English cathedrals.
Commissioned Series: A pivotal moment came with his commission from Richard Colt Hoare of Stourhead to produce ten volumes of drawings of churches and historic buildings in Wiltshire (c. 1800). This project, as described by Buckler’s grandson, "decided his brains for antiquarian pursuits."
Prolific Output: He subsequently received similar commissions from other collectors like William Salt of Staffordshire. By the end of his life, he had produced an estimated 13,000 drawings of buildings.
Focus on Historic Buildings: Buckler’s work was particularly significant because it documented many structures that hadn't been previously recorded and which have since undergone substantial alterations or demolition. His drawings are now a vital resource for understanding British architectural history.
Royal Academy Exhibitions: Buckler’s work was consistently exhibited at the Royal Academy from 1798 until 1849, demonstrating his standing within the artistic community.
Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries: He became a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London in 1810, further solidifying his reputation as an authority on British architecture and history.
Legacy & Collections: Forty-two volumes of his sketches are held by the British Library, with other collections residing at institutions like the Wiltshire Museum, Taunton Museum, the William Salt Library, and the Bodleian Library.
Impact on Architectural Understanding: John Buckler’s meticulous documentation provides an unparalleled visual record of Britain's architectural heritage, offering invaluable insights into buildings that have vanished or undergone significant changes over time. His work remains a crucial resource for historians, architects, and anyone interested in the evolution of British architecture.
Institute for the History and Theory of Architecture: Since 2013, a research project hosted by the Institute for the History and Theory of Architecture at ETH Zurich has been dedicated to studying the Buckler family of architects and topographical artists, further illuminating their contributions to British art and architecture.
allpaintingsstore.com/en/art/download/john-buckler-the-spanish-pointer-9DHEXN-en/
Look closely
The Spanish Pointer — John Buckler
Answer in your own words. There are no wrong answers here — only answers you can explain.
Write a short paragraph about this artwork. Use the facts from the earlier parts of this guide, and your answers above.
The image of "The Spanish Pointer" by John Buckler can be downloaded from the artwork's Download page: a high-resolution digital image download.
You can order a hand-painted reproduction of "The Spanish Pointer" by John Buckler directly on its Hand-Painted Reproduction page: a hand-painted oil reproduction on linen canvas, made to order.
The recorded values for "The Spanish Pointer" by John Buckler are: brilliant brightness, bright balance luminance.