A landscape painter, James Northcote was born in Hammerston, England, in 1822, and came to the United States in 1858. In partnership with Henry Northcote, likely his brother, he became a scene painter at the Drury Lane and Surrey Theatres in New York City. During the eight years he held his position, he continued his studies in landscape and figure painting under Philip Phillips and Louis Hang.

He exhibited at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts and the National Academy.

He died in Brooklyn, New York on February 4, 1904.

Biography from AskArt.com