Colling, James Kellaway Paintings

James Kellaway Colling was an English artist, architect, and illustrator born in 1859, in Ramsgate, Kent. He is particularly known for his architectural drawings and Gothic Revival designs. Colling worked at a time when the Gothic style was experiencing a resurgence in popularity, particularly in Britain, which was part of a broader historical revival in Victorian architecture.

Colling received his education at the National Art Training School, which is now known as the Royal College of Art. His talents were recognized early, and he soon found employment with the architect George Edmund Street, who was a leading figure in the Victorian Gothic Revival. Working with Street, Colling contributed to designs for the Royal Courts of Justice in London, which is considered one of the grandest examples of Victorian Gothic architecture.

Throughout his career, Colling published several influential books on architecture and design. His publications, such as 'Gothic Ornaments' and 'Details of Gothic Architecture', were highly regarded for their meticulous illustrations and served as valuable resources for architects and designers interested in the Gothic style. These books also helped to disseminate the principles of the Gothic Revival more broadly, influencing architectural practice beyond the boundaries of the United Kingdom.

Apart from his architectural work, Colling was also a skilled painter and exhibited at the Royal Academy. His artistic talent extended to watercolors and illustrations that often depicted architectural subjects with a high degree of detail and historical accuracy.

James Kellaway Colling's contributions to architecture and the Gothic Revival movement were significant during his lifetime. His works continue to be studied for their artistic merit and as documentation of Victorian tastes and styles. Colling passed away in 1924, leaving behind a legacy as a proponent and documentarian of Gothic Revival architecture and ornamentation.