John Malchair of Oxford

The most important and influential drawing master in eighteenth century Oxford was a German violinist, John Malchair, who for over thirty years supplemented his meagre earnings as leader of the band at the Music Room by giving drawing lessons of a kind unique for their period. Each of Malchair's drawings was seen only by a few individuals: his pupils and those who accompanied him on particular sketching expeditions, and the friends who were shown the sketchbook or portfolio afterwards. This catalogue which contains approximately 100 examples of Malchair's work is dedicated to the memory of Ian Fleming-Williams, who died on 6 March 1998, at the age of eighty-four and whose first art historical research was into the work of John Malchair and other eighteenth century drawing masters.