Cranbrook Colony
Encyclopedia
The Cranbrook Colony was a group of artists who settled in Cranbrook, Kent
from 1854 onwards and were inspired by seventeenth century Dutch and Flemish painters. They have been referred to as 'genre' painters as they tended to paint scenes of the everyday life that they saw around them in the rural area of Kent where they lived, typically scenes of domestic life; cooking and washing, children playing and other family activities.
The group started with the painter Frederick Daniel Hardy
who liked the countryside around Cranbrook and settled there in 1854. He was joined there after three years by his mentor, Thomas Webster
, their studio being an old house in the High Street, of which Hardy occupied the basement.
The group eveolved in a rather loose and informal manner. Other artists who soon joined Hardy and Webster were Frederick Hardy's brother George Hardy, John Callcott Horsley
, and George Bernard O'Neill
(who married Horsley’s cousin Emma Callcott), with George Henry Boughton
and Augustus Mulready frequently visiting. The artists and their families formed strong bonds and were active in their local community, playing a philanthropic role in Cranbrook
Their works were mainly romanticized views of the countryside and sentimental images of bucolic simplicity which proved extremely saleable to the industrialists of the Midlands
.
"The Cranbrook style was enormously popular, and had many imitators," including William Henry Knight
; its artists continued a tradition "of small old-masterish pictures until the end of the century."
Cranbrook, Kent
Cranbrook is a small town in Kent in South East England which was granted a charter in 1290 by Archbishop Peckham, allowing it to hold a market in the High Street. Located on the Maidstone to Hastings road, it is five miles north of Hawkhurst. The smaller settlements of Swattenden, Colliers...
from 1854 onwards and were inspired by seventeenth century Dutch and Flemish painters. They have been referred to as 'genre' painters as they tended to paint scenes of the everyday life that they saw around them in the rural area of Kent where they lived, typically scenes of domestic life; cooking and washing, children playing and other family activities.
The group started with the painter Frederick Daniel Hardy
Frederick Daniel Hardy
Frederick Daniel Hardy was an English genre painter and member of the Cranbrook Colony.-Life:Hardy was born in Windsor in Berkshire, one of six children of George Hardy , a musician to George IV, Queen Adelaide and Queen Victoria in the Royal household at Windsor...
who liked the countryside around Cranbrook and settled there in 1854. He was joined there after three years by his mentor, Thomas Webster
Thomas Webster (painter)
Thomas Webster , was an English genre painter, who lived for many years at the artists' colony in Cranbrook.-Life:Webster was born in Ranelagh Street, Pimlico, London...
, their studio being an old house in the High Street, of which Hardy occupied the basement.
The group eveolved in a rather loose and informal manner. Other artists who soon joined Hardy and Webster were Frederick Hardy's brother George Hardy, John Callcott Horsley
John Callcott Horsley
John Callcott Horsley RA , was an English Academic painter of genre and historical scenes, illustrator, and designer of the first Christmas card. He was a member of the artist's colony in Cranbrook.-Life:...
, and George Bernard O'Neill
George Bernard O'Neill
George Bernard O'Neill , was a prolific Anglo-Irish genre painter, from 1859 a member of the Cranbrook Colony of artists.-Life and work:...
(who married Horsley’s cousin Emma Callcott), with George Henry Boughton
George Henry Boughton
George Henry Boughton was an Anglo-American landscape and genre painter, illustrator and writer.-Life and work:...
and Augustus Mulready frequently visiting. The artists and their families formed strong bonds and were active in their local community, playing a philanthropic role in Cranbrook
Their works were mainly romanticized views of the countryside and sentimental images of bucolic simplicity which proved extremely saleable to the industrialists of the Midlands
English Midlands
The Midlands, or the English Midlands, is the traditional name for the area comprising central England that broadly corresponds to the early medieval Kingdom of Mercia. It borders Southern England, Northern England, East Anglia and Wales. Its largest city is Birmingham, and it was an important...
.
"The Cranbrook style was enormously popular, and had many imitators," including William Henry Knight
William Henry Knight
William Henry Knight was an English portrait and genre painter.-Life and work:Knight was born in Newbury, Berkshire where his father, John Knight, was a schoolmaster. He was to become a solicitor, but gave up his law studies after two of his paintings were accepted by the annual exhibition of the...
; its artists continued a tradition "of small old-masterish pictures until the end of the century."