Frederick Whitehead
Encyclopedia
Frederick William Newton Whitehead (1853 – 12 February 1938) was an English landscape artist and illustrator
. Also known as Fred Whitehead.
in 1853, the eldest child of William and Hannah Whitehead. The Whitehead family had lived in Leamington from the late eighteenth century and were bricklayers or farmers. William Whitehead, however, carried out an apprenticeship and set up business as a ‘Carver & Gilder, Picture Dealer, Restorer and Artists’ Colourman’. The Whitehead’s family home at 5 Lansdowne Terrace was also the business premises and studio. Well established Leamington artists, including Thomas Baker
(1808–1864), sold their work through the studio.
Frederick grew up surrounded by strong artistic influences. When he was still a child the Irish artist Richard Rothwell
(1800–1868) came to stay at Lansdowne Terrace and gave Frederick his first lessons in drawing and painting. Later he received tuition from John Burgess
(1813–1874), one of the town’s foremost artists. Despite these lessons with Burgess, Whitehead’s early work was more noticeably influenced by Thomas Baker in both subject matter and style.
Frederick attended the Leamington School of Art, with his sister Elizabeth Whitehead, before they both travelled to France in 1880. There studied at the Académie Julian
in the Saint-Denis
district of Paris
for three years under Jules Joseph Lefebvre
(1836–1911) and Gustave Boulanger
(1824–1888). Classes were only held in the winter. During the summer months, Frederick and his sister would travel and paint together in the French countryside. It is thought that his time in France established in him the importance of painting in the open air and observing all the changes in nature.
On returning to England, Whitehead he continued to travel but settled for a time in Dorset
. It was here that he met and began a lifelong friendship with the writer, Thomas Hardy
. He also met his future wife Beatrice Case who was a local celebrity in her own right, well known for her singing voice and expertise on the piano. Through their long and happy marriage they spent winters in London
and returned to Dorset in the summer months.
Frederick and his sister Elizabeth became well known in the Dorset countryside, travelling with their two dogs and their caravan "The Rambler". Living in this way meant that Frederick could immerse himself in nature. He painted close by the caravan or travelled further a-field with a small portable studio called "the Baby Elephant". He painted using watercolours and oils
and etched "on the spot".
Whitehead seems to be best known for his paintings of the Dorset countryside. He rarely visited Leamington after his marriage, though, between 1881 and 1916, he illustrated three books on Warwickshire
, and Leamington Art Gallery and Museum holds eleven paintings and twelve prints of locations in Warwickshire by the artist as well as paintings and prints from locations in France, Wales and Devon.
Whitehead was a member of the Royal Birmingham Society of Artists
and exhibited his first painting there in 1870 at the age of eighteen. He also exhibited with the Royal Academy
(London) from 1881 to 1893. His work appeared in the exhibitions of leading galleries in Britain and he held a number of successful private exhibitions in London.
He was a great admirer of Constable
and has been likened to him in his choice of subject. Although he predominantly painted landscapes, he also concentrated occasionally on religious architecture, such as St Mary’s, Warwick
, and Gloucester Cathedral
.
Whitehead died in February 1938. He was a true lover of the English countryside who lived alongside nature in order to observe and immortalise it for future generations.
Illustrator
An Illustrator is a narrative artist who specializes in enhancing writing by providing a visual representation that corresponds to the content of the associated text...
. Also known as Fred Whitehead.
Life and work
Whitehead was born in Leamington SpaLeamington Spa
Royal Leamington Spa, commonly known as Leamington Spa or Leamington or Leam to locals, is a spa town in central Warwickshire, England. Formerly known as Leamington Priors, its expansion began following the popularisation of the medicinal qualities of its water by Dr Kerr in 1784, and by Dr Lambe...
in 1853, the eldest child of William and Hannah Whitehead. The Whitehead family had lived in Leamington from the late eighteenth century and were bricklayers or farmers. William Whitehead, however, carried out an apprenticeship and set up business as a ‘Carver & Gilder, Picture Dealer, Restorer and Artists’ Colourman’. The Whitehead’s family home at 5 Lansdowne Terrace was also the business premises and studio. Well established Leamington artists, including Thomas Baker
Thomas Baker (artist)
Thomas Baker was a Midlands landscape painter and watercolourist often known as "Baker of Leamington" or "Landscape Baker"....
(1808–1864), sold their work through the studio.
Frederick grew up surrounded by strong artistic influences. When he was still a child the Irish artist Richard Rothwell
Richard Rothwell
Richard Rothwell was a nineteenth-century Irish portrait and genre painter.-Biography:Rothwell was born in Athlone, Ireland to James and Elizabeth and was the oldest of their seven children. He trained to become a painter at the Dublin Society's school from 1814 until 1820 and won a silver medal...
(1800–1868) came to stay at Lansdowne Terrace and gave Frederick his first lessons in drawing and painting. Later he received tuition from John Burgess
John Bagnold Burgess
John Bagnold Burgess was an English artist known for his of paintings of historical and genre scenes, principally in Spain.-Life and work:...
(1813–1874), one of the town’s foremost artists. Despite these lessons with Burgess, Whitehead’s early work was more noticeably influenced by Thomas Baker in both subject matter and style.
Frederick attended the Leamington School of Art, with his sister Elizabeth Whitehead, before they both travelled to France in 1880. There studied at the Académie Julian
Académie Julian
The Académie Julian was an art school in Paris, France.Rodolphe Julian established the Académie Julian in 1868 at the Passage des Panoramas, as a private studio school for art students. The Académie Julian not only prepared students to the exams at the prestigious École des Beaux-Arts, but offered...
in the Saint-Denis
Saint-Denis
Saint-Denis is a commune in the northern suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the centre of Paris. Saint-Denis is a sous-préfecture of the Seine-Saint-Denis département, being the seat of the Arrondissement of Saint-Denis....
district of 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...
for three years under Jules Joseph Lefebvre
Jules Joseph Lefebvre
Jules Joseph Lefebvre was a French figure painter.Lefebvre entered the École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts in 1852 and was a pupil of Léon Cogniet. He won the prestigious Prix de Rome in 1861. Between 1855 and 1898, he exhibited 72 portraits in the Paris Salon...
(1836–1911) and Gustave Boulanger
Gustave Boulanger
Gustave Clarence Rodolphe Boulanger was a French figure painter known for his Neo-Grec style. He was born at Paris, studied with Delaroche and Jollivet, and in 1849 took the Prix de Rome. His paintings are prime examples of academic art of the time, particularly history painting...
(1824–1888). Classes were only held in the winter. During the summer months, Frederick and his sister would travel and paint together in the French countryside. It is thought that his time in France established in him the importance of painting in the open air and observing all the changes in nature.
On returning to England, Whitehead he continued to travel but settled for a time in Dorset
Dorset
Dorset , is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The county town is Dorchester which is situated in the south. The Hampshire towns of Bournemouth and Christchurch joined the county with the reorganisation of local government in 1974...
. It was here that he met and began a lifelong friendship with the writer, Thomas Hardy
Thomas Hardy
Thomas Hardy, OM was an English novelist and poet. While his works typically belong to the Naturalism movement, several poems display elements of the previous Romantic and Enlightenment periods of literature, such as his fascination with the supernatural.While he regarded himself primarily as a...
. He also met his future wife Beatrice Case who was a local celebrity in her own right, well known for her singing voice and expertise on the piano. Through their long and happy marriage they spent winters in 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...
and returned to Dorset in the summer months.
Frederick and his sister Elizabeth became well known in the Dorset countryside, travelling with their two dogs and their caravan "The Rambler". Living in this way meant that Frederick could immerse himself in nature. He painted close by the caravan or travelled further a-field with a small portable studio called "the Baby Elephant". He painted using watercolours and oils
Oil painting
Oil painting is the process of painting with pigments that are bound with a medium of drying oil—especially in early modern Europe, linseed oil. Often an oil such as linseed was boiled with a resin such as pine resin or even frankincense; these were called 'varnishes' and were prized for their body...
and etched "on the spot".
Whitehead seems to be best known for his paintings of the Dorset countryside. He rarely visited Leamington after his marriage, though, between 1881 and 1916, he illustrated three books on Warwickshire
Warwickshire
Warwickshire is a landlocked non-metropolitan county in the West Midlands region of England. The county town is Warwick, although the largest town is Nuneaton. The county is famous for being the birthplace of William Shakespeare...
, and Leamington Art Gallery and Museum holds eleven paintings and twelve prints of locations in Warwickshire by the artist as well as paintings and prints from locations in France, Wales and Devon.
Whitehead was a member of the Royal Birmingham Society of Artists
Royal Birmingham Society of Artists
The Royal Birmingham Society of Artists or RBSA is a learned society of artists and an art gallery based in the Jewellery Quarter in Birmingham, England. it is both a registered charity. and a registered company The Royal Birmingham Society of Artists or RBSA is a learned society of artists and an...
and exhibited his first painting there in 1870 at the age of eighteen. He also exhibited with 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...
(London) from 1881 to 1893. His work appeared in the exhibitions of leading galleries in Britain and he held a number of successful private exhibitions in London.
He was a great admirer of 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...
and has been likened to him in his choice of subject. Although he predominantly painted landscapes, he also concentrated occasionally on religious architecture, such as St Mary’s, Warwick
Collegiate Church of St Mary, Warwick
The Collegiate Church of St Mary is a Church of England parish church in the town of Warwick, England. It lies in the centre of the town just east of the market place. It is a member of the Greater Churches Group....
, and Gloucester Cathedral
Gloucester Cathedral
Gloucester Cathedral, or the Cathedral Church of St Peter and the Holy and Indivisible Trinity, in Gloucester, England, stands in the north of the city near the river. It originated in 678 or 679 with the foundation of an abbey dedicated to Saint Peter .-Foundations:The foundations of the present...
.
Whitehead died in February 1938. He was a true lover of the English countryside who lived alongside nature in order to observe and immortalise it for future generations.
External links
- Paintings by Fred and Elizabeth Whitehead (Leamington Spa art gallery and museum collections)
- Photo of Fred Whitehead
- Askart - Profile