Claud Lovat Fraser
Encyclopedia
Claud Lovat Fraser was an English
Artist, designer and author.
Claud Lovat Fraser was a member of a distinguished old family in which it was traditional to include the name Lovat in the eldest son's name. For much of his life he was know simply by that name. Fraser's father (also Claud) was a prominent solicitor.
The young Fraser and his younger brother Alan were educated at Charterhouse School
in Surrey
. In 1907 he began his studies to enter his father's law firm, but was always more interested in becoming an artist. In 1911 with his father's blessing he left the family firm and began to pursue a career in art.
After a brief period under the tutelage of Walter Sickert
in 1912 he executed illustrations for Haldane Macfall's essay on art and aesthetics entitled The Splendid Wayfaring.
In 1913, along with Holbrook Jackson
and the poet Ralph Hodgson
Lovat Fraser established a small publishing firm called The Sign of the Flying Fame to produce decorative poetry broadsides and chapbooks. Although printed in limited editions and often hand-coloured, they were affordably priced and were intended to make poetry more accessible to the general public.
In the autumn of 1914, Fraser enlisted with the Inns of Court
Officer Training Corps and was quickly commissioned to the 14th Battalion of the Durham Light Infantry
. He went on to produce sketches as a record of the trenches and battlefields of Flanders
. He was one of few British officers to survive the Battle of Loos
in 1915. In December of that year his battalion withstood a German gas attack but in the confusion of the event, he neglected to put on his gas mask and suffered injuries to his lungs. He was promoted to captain in early 1916, but by late February he was invalided home, suffering from the effects of gas and from shellshock after a battle at the Ypres Salient
. He served as a clerk in the War Office on visual propaganda from October 1916 through to late April 1917 and then at the Army Record Office at Hounslow
until his discharge in March 1919.
In August 1916, he had met the American-born actress Grace Inez Crawford
in the dressing room of a theatre. They were married in February 1917 and had a daughter, Helen. His wife's interests contributed to his increased activity in theatre and costume design.
After the war, Fraser made designs for the Harold Munro's Poetry Bookshop and for the Curwen Press
. He also executed private commissions for bookplates, stationery and greeting cards. He produced the designs for a very successful revival of John Gay
's The Beggar's Opera
.
During this period Grace and Lovat Fraser became friendly with Paul Nash (artist)
. They were introduced by Nash and his wife to Dymchurch
in Kent
and the two families holidayed together. Lovat was taken ill, while the family were vacationing there and died on June 18 after a sudden illness related to the injuries he had sustained from the gassing from which he had never properly recovered.
A memorial exhibition of his work was held in December 1921 at the Leicester Galleries in London.
Buried at Layston Churchyard Herts http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=65993125
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...
Artist, designer and author.
Claud Lovat Fraser was a member of a distinguished old family in which it was traditional to include the name Lovat in the eldest son's name. For much of his life he was know simply by that name. Fraser's father (also Claud) was a prominent solicitor.
The young Fraser and his younger brother Alan were educated at Charterhouse School
Charterhouse School
Charterhouse School, originally The Hospital of King James and Thomas Sutton in Charterhouse, or more simply Charterhouse or House, is an English collegiate independent boarding school situated at Godalming in Surrey.Founded by Thomas Sutton in London in 1611 on the site of the old Carthusian...
in Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
. In 1907 he began his studies to enter his father's law firm, but was always more interested in becoming an artist. In 1911 with his father's blessing he left the family firm and began to pursue a career in art.
After a brief period under the tutelage of Walter Sickert
Walter Sickert
Walter Richard Sickert , born in Munich, Germany, was a painter who was a member of the Camden Town Group in London. He was an important influence on distinctively British styles of avant-garde art in the 20th century....
in 1912 he executed illustrations for Haldane Macfall's essay on art and aesthetics entitled The Splendid Wayfaring.
In 1913, along with Holbrook Jackson
Holbrook Jackson
George Holbrook Jackson was a British journalist, writer and publisher. He was recognised as one of the leading bibliophiles of his time.-Biography:...
and the poet Ralph Hodgson
Ralph Hodgson
Ralph Hodgson , Order of the Rising Sun ,was an English poet, very popular in his lifetime on the strength of a small number of anthology pieces, such as The Bull. He was one of the more 'pastoral' of the Georgian poets...
Lovat Fraser established a small publishing firm called The Sign of the Flying Fame to produce decorative poetry broadsides and chapbooks. Although printed in limited editions and often hand-coloured, they were affordably priced and were intended to make poetry more accessible to the general public.
In the autumn of 1914, Fraser enlisted with the Inns of Court
Inns of Court
The Inns of Court in London are the professional associations for barristers in England and Wales. All such barristers must belong to one such association. They have supervisory and disciplinary functions over their members. The Inns also provide libraries, dining facilities and professional...
Officer Training Corps and was quickly commissioned to the 14th Battalion of the Durham Light Infantry
Durham Light Infantry
The Durham Light Infantry was an infantry regiment of the British Army from 1881 to 1968. It was formed by the amalgamation of the 68th Regiment of Foot and the 106th Regiment of Foot along with the militia and rifle volunteers of County Durham...
. He went on to produce sketches as a record of the trenches and battlefields of Flanders
Flanders
Flanders is the community of the Flemings but also one of the institutions in Belgium, and a geographical region located in parts of present-day Belgium, France and the Netherlands. "Flanders" can also refer to the northern part of Belgium that contains Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp...
. He was one of few British officers to survive the Battle of Loos
Battle of Loos
The Battle of Loos was one of the major British offensives mounted on the Western Front in 1915 during World War I. It marked the first time the British used poison gas during the war, and is also famous for the fact that it witnessed the first large-scale use of 'new' or Kitchener's Army...
in 1915. In December of that year his battalion withstood a German gas attack but in the confusion of the event, he neglected to put on his gas mask and suffered injuries to his lungs. He was promoted to captain in early 1916, but by late February he was invalided home, suffering from the effects of gas and from shellshock after a battle at the Ypres Salient
Ypres Salient
The Ypres Salient is the area around Ypres in Belgium which was the scene of some of the biggest battles in World War I.In military terms, a salient is a battlefield feature that projects into enemy territory. Therefore, the salient is surrounded by the enemy on three sides, making the troops...
. He served as a clerk in the War Office on visual propaganda from October 1916 through to late April 1917 and then at the Army Record Office at Hounslow
Hounslow
Hounslow is the principal town in the London Borough of Hounslow. It is a suburban development situated 10.6 miles west south-west of Charing Cross. It forms a post town in the TW postcode area.-Etymology:...
until his discharge in March 1919.
In August 1916, he had met the American-born actress Grace Inez Crawford
Grace Inez Crawford
Grace Inez Crawford was a singer, actress, costume designer, translator of plays, and author of several books.-Biography:She was born in Paris in 1889, daughter of Theron Clark Crawford, an American entrepreneur, and a highly trained amateur pianist...
in the dressing room of a theatre. They were married in February 1917 and had a daughter, Helen. His wife's interests contributed to his increased activity in theatre and costume design.
After the war, Fraser made designs for the Harold Munro's Poetry Bookshop and for the Curwen Press
Curwen Press
The Curwen Press was founded by the Reverend John Curwen in 1863 to publish sheet music for the "tonic sol-fa" system. The Press was based in Plaistow, Newham, east London, England, where Curwen was a pastor from 1844...
. He also executed private commissions for bookplates, stationery and greeting cards. He produced the designs for a very successful revival of John Gay
John Gay
John Gay was an English poet and dramatist and member of the Scriblerus Club. He is best remembered for The Beggar's Opera , set to music by Johann Christoph Pepusch...
's The Beggar's Opera
The Beggar's Opera
The Beggar's Opera is a ballad opera in three acts written in 1728 by John Gay with music arranged by Johann Christoph Pepusch. It is one of the watershed plays in Augustan drama and is the only example of the once thriving genre of satirical ballad opera to remain popular today...
.
During this period Grace and Lovat Fraser became friendly with Paul Nash (artist)
Paul Nash (artist)
Paul Nash was a British landscape painter, surrealist and war artist, as well as a book-illustrator, writer and designer of applied art. He was the older brother of the artist John Nash.-Early life:...
. They were introduced by Nash and his wife to Dymchurch
Dymchurch
Dymchurch is a village and civil parish in the Shepway District of Kent, England. The village is located on the coast five miles south-west of Hythe, and on the Romney Marsh. It is typical of this part of the coast, having been a village which became larger during the 1930s...
in Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
and the two families holidayed together. Lovat was taken ill, while the family were vacationing there and died on June 18 after a sudden illness related to the injuries he had sustained from the gassing from which he had never properly recovered.
A memorial exhibition of his work was held in December 1921 at the Leicester Galleries in London.
Buried at Layston Churchyard Herts http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=65993125