John Charles Maggs

19th Century winter coaching oil painting of a stagecoach in a snowdrift

1888

John Charles Maggs was a well-known coaching scene painter who was born at 5 James Street, Bath in 1819. His father, James Maggs was an artist and furniture japanner and his uncle was a portrait painter. He studied in Italy for 2 years before returning to Bath, where he established himself as a painter and began to specialize in coaching scenes. Maggs ran a school of painting at his studio located at 34 Gay Street, known as the Bath Art Studio, where his daughter assisted him. Although he does not appear to have exhibited, he enjoyed great popularity during his lifetime winning important patrons such as Queen Victoria, the Duke of Beaufort and Joseph Grego. Maggs died at his home in Bath on 3rd November 1896 aged 77. The White Horse Cellar or Hatchetts White Horse Cellar was established around 1720 and became one of the best-known coaching inns during the 18th and 19th centuries. It was located at 155 Piccadilly and was the starting terminus for all western bound mail coaches from London.