De Loutherbourg, Philippe Jacques (Philip James) RA

1740

1812

De Loutherbourg was born at Basel and educated there with a view to entering the ministry of the Lutheran Church. Having determined to pursue an artistic career he went to Paris and became a pupil of Carle Van Loo and Casenova. His precocious talent resulted in his being elected an Associate of the French Academy at the age of 22 and a full Member five years later. He became known for his large wild and romantic landscapes and his battle scenes. After marriage, he travelled to Switzerland and Italy. Garrick discovered him on a trip to Paris in about 1771 and brought him back to England, were he engaged him at a salary of £500 a year, to oversee the scenery and stage apparatus at Drury Lane. De Loutherbourg brought about a revolution in theatre scenery painting and lighting effects and also assisted Garrick in a fundamental overhaul of theatrical costume. De Loutherbourg first exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1772 and continued with large numbers of works up until the year of his death. He became a full member of the Royal Academy in 1781. He quarreled with Garrick’s successor, Sheridan, and left the theatre. He was known for his well-received invention, a machine he called the ‘Eidophusikon’, which showed moving tableaux accompanied by special lighting effects and music. De Loutherbourg was known to have indulged a taste for mysticism, healing powers and the occult at his house in Hammersmith Terrace.