Cecil Gordon Lawson
Encyclopedia
Cecil Gordon Lawson was an English
landscape painter
.
The youngest son of William Lawson of Edinburgh
, a well-regarded portrait painter, and of a mother also known for her flower pieces, he was born in Fountain Place, Wellington, near Shrewsbury
. Two of his brothers (one of them, Malcolm, a clever musician and song-writer) were trained as artists, and Cecil was from childhood devoted to art with the intensity of a serious nature. Soon after his birth, the Lawsons moved to London
.
Lawson's first works were studies of fruit, flowers, etc., in the manner of William Henry Hunt
; followed by riverside Chelsea
subjects. His first exhibit at the Royal Academy
(1870) was "Cheyne Walk
," and in 1871 he sent two other Chelsea subjects. These gained full recognition from fellow-artists, if not from the public. Among his friends were now numbered Fred Walker
, GJ Pinwell
and their associates. Following them, he made a certain number of drawings for wood-engraving.
Lawson's Chelsea pictures had been painted in rather sombre tones; in the "Hymn to Spring" of 1872 (rejected by the Academy) he turned to a more colourful approach, helped by work done in North Wales
and Ireland
. Early in 1874 he made a short tour in Holland, Belgium
and Paris
; and in the summer he painted his large "Hop Gardens of England." This was much praised at the Academy of 1876.
Lawson's triumph was with the luxuriant canvas, "The Minister's Garden", exhibited in 1878 at the Grosvenor Gallery, and afterwards on display in the Manchester Art Gallery
. This was followed by several works conceived in a new and tragic mood. Lawson's health began to fail, but he worked on. In 1879 he married Constance, a daughter of sculptor John Birnie Philip
, and settled at Haslemere
.
His later subjects are from the neighbourhood where he lived (the most famous being "The August Moon," now in the Tate Britain Gallery, London
) or from Yorkshire
. Towards the end of 1881 he went to the French Riviera
, returned in the spring, and died at Haslemere
that summer.
Lawson may be said to have restored to English landscape the tradition of Thomas Gainsborough
, John Crome
and John Constable
, infused with an imaginative intensity of his own. Among English landscape painters of the latter part of the 19th century his is an outstanding name.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
landscape painter
Landscape art
Landscape art is a term that covers the depiction of natural scenery such as mountains, valleys, trees, rivers, and forests, and especially art where the main subject is a wide view, with its elements arranged into a coherent composition. In other works landscape backgrounds for figures can still...
.
The youngest son of William Lawson of Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, a well-regarded portrait painter, and of a mother also known for her flower pieces, he was born in Fountain Place, Wellington, near Shrewsbury
Shrewsbury
Shrewsbury is the county town of Shropshire, in the West Midlands region of England. Lying on the River Severn, it is a civil parish home to some 70,000 inhabitants, and is the primary settlement and headquarters of Shropshire Council...
. Two of his brothers (one of them, Malcolm, a clever musician and song-writer) were trained as artists, and Cecil was from childhood devoted to art with the intensity of a serious nature. Soon after his birth, the Lawsons moved to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
Lawson's first works were studies of fruit, flowers, etc., in the manner of William Henry Hunt
William Henry Hunt (painter)
William Henry Hunt , was an English watercolour painter.He was born near Long Acre and was a resident of Marchmont Street, London, and was apprenticed in about 1805 to John Varley, the landscape-painter, with whom he remained five or six years. He exhibited three oil pictures at the Royal Academy...
; followed by riverside Chelsea
Chelsea, London
Chelsea is an area of West London, England, bounded to the south by the River Thames, where its frontage runs from Chelsea Bridge along the Chelsea Embankment, Cheyne Walk, Lots Road and Chelsea Harbour. Its eastern boundary was once defined by the River Westbourne, which is now in a pipe above...
subjects. His first exhibit at the Royal Academy
Royal Academy
The Royal Academy of Arts is an art institution based in Burlington House on Piccadilly, London. The Royal Academy of Arts has a unique position in being an independent, privately funded institution led by eminent artists and architects whose purpose is to promote the creation, enjoyment and...
(1870) was "Cheyne Walk
Cheyne Walk
Cheyne Walk , is a historic street in Chelsea, the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. It takes its name from William Lord Cheyne who owned the manor of Chelsea until 1712. Most of the houses were built in the early 18th century. Before the construction in the 19th century of the busy...
," and in 1871 he sent two other Chelsea subjects. These gained full recognition from fellow-artists, if not from the public. Among his friends were now numbered Fred Walker
Frederick Walker (painter)
Frederick Walker was an English social realist painter and illustrator described by Sir John Everett Millais as "the greatest artist of the century".__NOEDITSECTION__-Early Life and training:...
, GJ Pinwell
George John Pinwell
George John Pinwell , was a British watercolour painter.He was born at Wycombe and received his art education at educated at St. Martin's Lane Academy and Heatherley's Academy...
and their associates. Following them, he made a certain number of drawings for wood-engraving.
Lawson's Chelsea pictures had been painted in rather sombre tones; in the "Hymn to Spring" of 1872 (rejected by the Academy) he turned to a more colourful approach, helped by work done in North Wales
North Wales
North Wales is the northernmost unofficial region of Wales. It is bordered to the south by the counties of Ceredigion and Powys in Mid Wales and to the east by the counties of Shropshire in the West Midlands and Cheshire in North West England...
and Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. Early in 1874 he made a short tour in Holland, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
and Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
; and in the summer he painted his large "Hop Gardens of England." This was much praised at the Academy of 1876.
Lawson's triumph was with the luxuriant canvas, "The Minister's Garden", exhibited in 1878 at the Grosvenor Gallery, and afterwards on display in the Manchester Art Gallery
Manchester Art Gallery
Manchester Art Gallery is a publicly-owned art gallery in Manchester, England. It was formerly known as Manchester City Art Gallery.The gallery was opened in 1824 and today occupies three buildings, the oldest of which - designed by Sir Charles Barry - is Grade I listed and was originally home to...
. This was followed by several works conceived in a new and tragic mood. Lawson's health began to fail, but he worked on. In 1879 he married Constance, a daughter of sculptor John Birnie Philip
John Birnie Philip
.John Birnie Philip was a notable English sculptor of the 19th century.He studied at the Government School of Design at Somerset House in London under John Rogers Herbert, and then at Herbert's own newly opened school in Maddox Street. He worked in Pugin's wood carving workshop at the Palace of...
, and settled at Haslemere
Haslemere
Haslemere is a town in Surrey, England, close to the border with both Hampshire and West Sussex. The major road between London and Portsmouth, the A3, lies to the west, and a branch of the River Wey to the south. Haslemere is approximately south-west of Guildford.Haslemere is surrounded by hills,...
.
His later subjects are from the neighbourhood where he lived (the most famous being "The August Moon," now in the Tate Britain Gallery, London
Tate Britain
Tate Britain is an art gallery situated on Millbank in London, and part of the Tate gallery network in Britain, with Tate Modern, Tate Liverpool and Tate St Ives. It is the oldest gallery in the network, opening in 1897. It houses a substantial collection of the works of J. M. W. Turner.-History:It...
) or from Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
. Towards the end of 1881 he went to the French Riviera
French Riviera
The Côte d'Azur, pronounced , often known in English as the French Riviera , is the Mediterranean coastline of the southeast corner of France, also including the sovereign state of Monaco...
, returned in the spring, and died at Haslemere
Haslemere
Haslemere is a town in Surrey, England, close to the border with both Hampshire and West Sussex. The major road between London and Portsmouth, the A3, lies to the west, and a branch of the River Wey to the south. Haslemere is approximately south-west of Guildford.Haslemere is surrounded by hills,...
that summer.
Lawson may be said to have restored to English landscape the tradition of Thomas Gainsborough
Thomas Gainsborough
Thomas Gainsborough was an English portrait and landscape painter.-Suffolk:Thomas Gainsborough was born in Sudbury, Suffolk. He was the youngest son of John Gainsborough, a weaver and maker of woolen goods. At the age of thirteen he impressed his father with his penciling skills so that he let...
, John Crome
John Crome
John Crome was an English landscape artist of the Romantic era, one of the principal artists of the "Norwich school". He is known as Old Crome to distinguish him from his son, John Berney Crome, who was also a well-known artist.-Life and work:Crome was born in Norwich in Norfolk, the son of a weaver...
and John Constable
John Constable
John Constable was an English Romantic painter. Born in Suffolk, he is known principally for his landscape paintings of Dedham Vale, the area surrounding his home—now known as "Constable Country"—which he invested with an intensity of affection...
, infused with an imaginative intensity of his own. Among English landscape painters of the latter part of the 19th century his is an outstanding name.