Christopher Nicholson
Encyclopedia
Christopher Nicholson was a leading British
architect
and design
er of the early Modern Movement in Britain
. His most notable works of the 1930s
were comparable to the advanced modern abstract style of his older brother, the artist Ben Nicholson
, OM
, (1894-1982).
and Mabel Pryde
, Christopher David George "Kit" Nicholson was educated at Gresham's School
, Holt
, from 1917 to 1922. He went up to Cambridge University to read Architecture, where he was at St. John's College. Nicholson had two older siblings, sculptor Ben Nicholson
and fabric designer Nancy Nicholson
, and a younger brother Anthony who was killed in action in 1918 in the First World War.
. They later went into partnership together in an architectural firm.
Through his major projects of the 1930s, Nicholson contributed to the development of Modernism
in Great Britain. His style in some ways reflected the abstract art of his brother Ben Nicholson
.
In 1931 Nicholson married Elsie Queen Myers, best known as the fabric designer EQ Nicholson
. His wife assisted in the office he ran with Casson.
A gliding
enthusiast, Nicholson died at age 44 on 28 July 1948 in a gliding accident in Italy.
Drawings Collection acquired Nicholson's complete collection of drawings, records and photographs. A selection was reproduced in Neil Bingham's book Christopher Nicholson (1996), from the early projects through to his major buildings, such as Augustus John
's studio and the London Gliding Club
. In the late 1940s, he designed aeroplane livery, and radio and television sets.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
architect
Architecture
Architecture is both the process and product of planning, designing and construction. Architectural works, in the material form of buildings, are often perceived as cultural and political symbols and as works of art...
and design
Design
Design as a noun informally refers to a plan or convention for the construction of an object or a system while “to design” refers to making this plan...
er of the early Modern Movement in Britain
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. His most notable works of the 1930s
1930s
File:1930s decade montage.png|From left, clockwise: Dorothea Lange's photo of the homeless Florence Thompson show the effects of the Great Depression; Due to the economic collapse, the farms become dry and the Dust Bowl spreads through America; The Battle of Wuhan during the Second Sino-Japanese...
were comparable to the advanced modern abstract style of his older brother, the artist Ben Nicholson
Ben Nicholson
Benjamin Lauder "Ben" Nicholson, OM was a British painter of abstract compositions , landscape and still-life.-Background and Training:...
, OM
Order of Merit
The Order of Merit is a British dynastic order recognising distinguished service in the armed forces, science, art, literature, or for the promotion of culture...
, (1894-1982).
Early life and education
The son of artists William NicholsonWilliam Nicholson (artist)
Sir William Newzam Prior Nicholson was an English painter of still-life, landscape and portraits, also known for his work as a wood-engraver, illustrator, author of children's books and designer for the theatre....
and Mabel Pryde
Mabel Pryde
Mabel Pryde was an artist, best known for being the wife of artist William Nicholson and mother of artists Ben Nicholson and Nancy Nicholson and the architect Christopher 'Kit' Nicholson....
, Christopher David George "Kit" Nicholson was educated at Gresham's School
Gresham's School
Gresham’s School is an independent coeducational boarding school in Holt in North Norfolk, England, a member of the HMC.The school was founded in 1555 by Sir John Gresham as a free grammar school for forty boys, following King Henry VIII's dissolution of the Augustinian priory at Beeston Regis...
, Holt
Holt, Norfolk
Holt is a market town and civil parish in the English county of Norfolk. The town is north of the city of Norwich, west of Cromer and east of King's Lynn. The town is on the route of the A148 King's Lynn to Cromer road. The nearest railway station is in the town of Sheringham where access to the...
, from 1917 to 1922. He went up to Cambridge University to read Architecture, where he was at St. John's College. Nicholson had two older siblings, sculptor Ben Nicholson
Ben Nicholson
Benjamin Lauder "Ben" Nicholson, OM was a British painter of abstract compositions , landscape and still-life.-Background and Training:...
and fabric designer Nancy Nicholson
Nancy Nicholson
Nancy Nicholson was a British painter and fabric designer.Born Annie Mary Pryde Nicholson, she was the only daughter of the artists Sir William Nicholson and Mabel Pryde. She had three brothers, sculptor Ben Nicholson, architect Christopher Nicholson and Anthony, who was killed in action in 1918...
, and a younger brother Anthony who was killed in action in 1918 in the First World War.
Career
After graduation, Nicholson taught at the Cambridge School of Architecture, where one of his pupils was Hugh CassonHugh Casson
Sir Hugh Maxwell Casson, KCVO, RA, RDI, was a British architect, interior designer, artist, and influential writer and broadcaster on 20th century design. He is particularly noted for his role as director of architecture at the 1951 Festival of Britain on London's South Bank.Casson's family...
. They later went into partnership together in an architectural firm.
Through his major projects of the 1930s, Nicholson contributed to the development of Modernism
Modernism
Modernism, in its broadest definition, is modern thought, character, or practice. More specifically, the term describes the modernist movement, its set of cultural tendencies and array of associated cultural movements, originally arising from wide-scale and far-reaching changes to Western society...
in Great Britain. His style in some ways reflected the abstract art of his brother Ben Nicholson
Ben Nicholson
Benjamin Lauder "Ben" Nicholson, OM was a British painter of abstract compositions , landscape and still-life.-Background and Training:...
.
In 1931 Nicholson married Elsie Queen Myers, best known as the fabric designer EQ Nicholson
EQ Nicholson
EQ Nicholson was an English painter and fabric designer.-Early life:Born Elsie Queen Myers in London, EQ was the daughter of novelist Leo Myers and his American born wife Elsie Mellen Nicholson ; she had a younger sister Eveleen Myers Myers...
. His wife assisted in the office he ran with Casson.
A gliding
Gliding
Gliding is a recreational activity and competitive air sport in which pilots fly unpowered aircraft known as gliders or sailplanes using naturally occurring currents of rising air in the atmosphere to remain airborne. The word soaring is also used for the sport.Gliding as a sport began in the 1920s...
enthusiast, Nicholson died at age 44 on 28 July 1948 in a gliding accident in Italy.
Legacy and honors
In 1990, the Royal Institute of British ArchitectsRoyal Institute of British Architects
The Royal Institute of British Architects is a professional body for architects primarily in the United Kingdom, but also internationally.-History:...
Drawings Collection acquired Nicholson's complete collection of drawings, records and photographs. A selection was reproduced in Neil Bingham's book Christopher Nicholson (1996), from the early projects through to his major buildings, such as Augustus John
Augustus John
Augustus Edwin John OM, RA, was a Welsh painter, draughtsman, and etcher. For a short time around 1910, he was an important exponent of Post-Impressionism in the United Kingdom....
's studio and the London Gliding Club
London Gliding Club
The London Gliding Club is a private members' club, and was set up primarily to train pilots in powerless flight, and the skills necessary to fly cross country using nature's sources of energy. Aerobatics and instructor training is also available. The club provides gliding courses, one day courses...
. In the late 1940s, he designed aeroplane livery, and radio and television sets.