John Elliott Tullidge

John Tullidge was born in Weymouth, England in 1836. John showed interest in art from an early age. He would spend his time sketching scenes of the English coastline and, at age 14, became the apprentice of a decorative painter.

Little is known about John’s formal art education. He had some artistic training as a youth in his primary school, but he is not known for having attended anything beyond that. In 1863, after joining the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, John moved to Utah. In Utah, John worked on painting murals for the Salt Lake LDS Temple and did some work for the Salt Lake Theater. In addition to his painting, John also did marbling and woodwork for buildings in Salt Lake City. John Tullidge helped found the Deseret Academy of Fine Arts along with Dan Weggeland and George M. Ottinger, however, that venture was short lived. He also opened shop where he sold art and met with fellow artists to discuss painting. Additionally, John taught students and was reportedly an excellent instructor. John continued to paint and exhibit his work until his death in 1899.

John specialized in landscape paintings of scenes from all across the United States. He painted from Utah to Pennsylvania and back again. His works captured the beauty of sawmills, waterfalls, forests and mountain ranges. His depictions of the colors of fall and of sunsets are wonderous.