Lawson Wood, sometimes Clarence Lawson Wood[note 1] RI FZS, (23 August 1878 – 26 October 1957), was an English painter, illustrator and designer.
Lawson Wood | |
|---|---|
| Born | 23 August 1878 Highgate, London, England |
| Died | 26 October 1957 (aged 79) |
| Other names | Clarence Lawson Wood |
| Occupation(s) | Painter, illustrator and designer |
Biography
Lawson Wood was born on 23 August 1878 in Highgate, London, the son of landscape artist Pinhorn Wood RI (1848–1918),[2] and the grandson of architectural artist L.J. Wood RI,[2] (1813–1901). He studied at the Slade School of Fine Art, at the Heatherley School of Fine Art,[3] and took evening classes at Frank Calderon's School of Animal Painting.[4]: 245
In 1896, at age 18, he was employed with periodical publisher C. Arthur Pearson.[2][note 2] He soon became Pearson's chief artist, leaving after six years to turn freelance.[4]: 246
In 1902, he married the fashion artist Charlotte Forge.[4]: 246 The couple had two sons and one daughter.[5]
Work
From the age of 24 he pursued a successful freelance career and was published in The Graphic, The Strand Magazine, Punch, The Illustrated London News, and the Boys Own Paper. He illustrated a number of books including Louis Tracy's The Invaders in 1901 for Pearson.[3]
His books include The Bow-Wow Book (1912), Rummy Tales (1920), The Noo-Zoo Tales (1922), Jolly Rhymes (1926), Fun Fair (1931), The Old Nursery Rhymes (1933), The Bedtime Picture Book (1943), Meddlesome Monkeys (1946) and Mischief Makers (1946).[2] Frederick Warne of London a seried of Mr. books by Wood in 1916:Mr Prickles, Mr Quack, Mr Trunk, Mr Grunt, Mr Fox, and Mr Pup[6].
Assessment
Peppin and Micklethwait stated that Wood's wide reputation as a humorous illustrator and commercial artist was based in part on astute management. He retained the copyright in his work and licensed it in Britain and abroad for posters, postcards, etc.[7] Cran'pop was merchandised in pottery, calendars, postcards, and cigarette cards.[4]: 246 Wood worked in pen and ink, pencils, chalk, and watercolour[7]. He used a specially made enamel palette about one foot (300 mm) square and worked on Milburn Drawing Board at an architects desk.[4]: 246
Houfe said that most of Wood's work was "humorous in drawing and content, his repertoire of characters including peppery army officers, namby-pamby men and dominating old dames. The figures are heavily caricatured and he was one of the group of artists who made capital out of imaginary prehistoric scenes."[8] Kelly calls a watercolour by Wood "a welcome holiday from the prehistoric monsters and chimpanzees on which he wasted so much talent."[9] Peppin and Micklethwait cite Percy Bradshaw as saying the Wood had a "breadth, ease and fluency which many an infinitely more serious artist must envy".[7]
Later life
Wood lived in a 15th-century medieval manor house he moved brick by brick from Sussex to the Kent border. He died in Devon on 26 October 1957 at the age of 79.[2]
Notes
References
External links
- Lawson Wood on Artnet
- Lawson Wood artworks
- Lawson Wood at Library of Congress, with 6 library catalogue records