Herbert William Weekes
Encyclopedia
Herbert William Weekes was a well-known British genre and animal painter
of the Victorian
Neoclassical
period who specialized in portraying animals in humorous, human-like situations.
, London
, England to a prominent artistic family: the youngest of five children, his father, Henry Weekes, Sr.
(1807–1877), was a sculptor and Royal Academician
; his brother, Henry, Jr. (fl. 1850–1884), was also a genre painter known for his animal studies; and his brother, Frederick (1833–1920), was an artist and expert on medieval
costume and design.
. In 1865, he married Caroline Anne Henshaw (born ca. 1844), of Hammersmith
.
Known as an animal and genre painter of the Victorian Neoclassical style, Weekes' work was popular, and helped expand 19th century animal painting from its traditional role of simply recording beasts into a way of reflecting human life. He frequently personified animals and placed them in situations particular to humans. His work shows a sensitive understanding of his subject matter, and part of his success in capturing the peaceful country atmosphere depicted in so many of his paintings lay in his affection for it. He was greatly influenced by one of the foremost animal painters of the nineteenth century, Sir Edwin Henry Landseer
.
Weekes contributed illustrations for The Illustrated London News in 1883, and exhibited extensively in various London and provincial galleries. His works were well received - although not by everyone: a contemporary wit described his paintings as “Weekes' Weak Squeaks”.
His works were alternatively signed with the initials 'WW' (sometimes overlaid), 'W. Weekes', 'William Weekes', 'Herbert William Weekes', 'H.W. Weekes', 'H. Weekes', and simply 'Weekes'. They were exhibited in a variety of venues from 1864 to 1904, with frequencies as follows:
Animal painter
An animal painter is an artist who specializes in or is known for their skill in the portrayal of animals, essentially up to about 1900. During the last century "wildlife artist" became the preferred term for contemporary animal painters....
of the Victorian
Victorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
Neoclassical
Neoclassicism
Neoclassicism is the name given to Western movements in the decorative and visual arts, literature, theatre, music, and architecture that draw inspiration from the "classical" art and culture of Ancient Greece or Ancient Rome...
period who specialized in portraying animals in humorous, human-like situations.
Early life and family
Weekes was born ca. 1842 in PimlicoPimlico
Pimlico is a small area of central London in the City of Westminster. Like Belgravia, to which it was built as a southern extension, Pimlico is known for its grand garden squares and impressive Regency architecture....
, 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...
, England to a prominent artistic family: the youngest of five children, his father, Henry Weekes, Sr.
Henry Weekes
Henry Weekes, RA was an English sculptor, best known for his portraiture. He was among the most successful British sculptors of the mid-Victorian period....
(1807–1877), was a sculptor and Royal Academician
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...
; his brother, Henry, Jr. (fl. 1850–1884), was also a genre painter known for his animal studies; and his brother, Frederick (1833–1920), was an artist and expert on medieval
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
costume and design.
Later life and career
Weekes appears to have used his middle name, William, for all but formal purposes. He lived and worked for most of his life in London, at 21 Oppidans Road, Primrose HillPrimrose Hill
Primrose Hill is a hill of located on the north side of Regent's Park in London, England, and also the name for the surrounding district. The hill has a clear view of central London to the south-east, as well as Belsize Park and Hampstead to the north...
. In 1865, he married Caroline Anne Henshaw (born ca. 1844), of Hammersmith
Hammersmith
Hammersmith is an urban centre in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham in west London, England, in the United Kingdom, approximately five miles west of Charing Cross on the north bank of the River Thames...
.
Known as an animal and genre painter of the Victorian Neoclassical style, Weekes' work was popular, and helped expand 19th century animal painting from its traditional role of simply recording beasts into a way of reflecting human life. He frequently personified animals and placed them in situations particular to humans. His work shows a sensitive understanding of his subject matter, and part of his success in capturing the peaceful country atmosphere depicted in so many of his paintings lay in his affection for it. He was greatly influenced by one of the foremost animal painters of the nineteenth century, Sir Edwin Henry Landseer
Edwin Henry Landseer
Sir Edwin Henry Landseer, RA was an English painter, well known for his paintings of animals—particularly horses, dogs and stags...
.
Weekes contributed illustrations for The Illustrated London News in 1883, and exhibited extensively in various London and provincial galleries. His works were well received - although not by everyone: a contemporary wit described his paintings as “Weekes' Weak Squeaks”.
His works were alternatively signed with the initials 'WW' (sometimes overlaid), 'W. Weekes', 'William Weekes', 'Herbert William Weekes', 'H.W. Weekes', 'H. Weekes', and simply 'Weekes'. They were exhibited in a variety of venues from 1864 to 1904, with frequencies as follows:
- Royal AcademyRoyal AcademyThe 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...
(59) - Walker Art GalleryWalker Art GalleryThe Walker Art Gallery is an art gallery in Liverpool, which houses one of the largest art collections in England, outside of London. It is part of the National Museums Liverpool group, and is promoted as "the National Gallery of the North" because it is not a local or regional gallery but is part...
, Liverpool (15) - Royal Society of British ArtistsRoyal Society of British ArtistsThe Royal Society of British Artists is a British art body established in 1823 as the Society of British Artists, as an alternative to the Royal Academy.-History:...
(10) - Royal Institute of Oil PaintersRoyal Institute of Oil PaintersThe Royal Institute of Oil Painters, also known as ROI, is an association of painters in London and is the only major art society which features work done only in oil. It is a member society of the Federation of British Artists.-History:...
(8) - Royal Birmingham Society of ArtistsRoyal Birmingham Society of ArtistsThe 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...
(6) - Arthur Tooth Gallery (3)
- Manchester City Art GalleryManchester Art GalleryManchester 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...
(3) - Royal Glasgow Institute of the Fine ArtsRoyal Glasgow Institute of the Fine ArtsThe Royal Glasgow Institute of the Fine Arts is an independent organisation in Glasgow, founded in 1861, which promotes contemporary art and artists in Scotland. It is the third largest organization of its kind in the United Kingdom...
(2) - Fine Art SocietyFine Art SocietyThe Fine Art Society is an art dealership with two premises, one in New Bond Street, London and the other in Edinburgh . It was formed in 1876...
(1) - Grosvenor GalleryGrosvenor GalleryThe Grosvenor Gallery was an art gallery in London founded in 1877 by Sir Coutts Lindsay and his wife Blanche. Its first directors were J. Comyns Carr and Charles Hallé...
(1)
Works
This is an inexhaustive list of Weekes' paintings, primarily done in oil on canvas:- Acquainted With Whoa
- Anticipation
- An Appeal to the Benevolent
- An Appreciative Audience
- The Avenged
- Backyard Gossip - Two Smooth-Coated Fox Terriers
- Barnyard Friends
- Best of Friends
- The Blockade
- A Captive Audience
- Cold As Charity
- Congratulations
- Consulting the Oracle
- A Critic
- Court of Arbitration
- Darby and Joan
- Curiosity
- The Disputed Gate
- A Donkey and Geese Beside a Wheelbarrow
- The Eviction
- Farmyard Friends
- Feeding the Pigs (1879)
- A Friendly Gathering
- Fowl Talk
- Fox Terrier (1879)
- Giant Snowball
- Giving Way
- A Glimpse of the News
- Going to the Dogs
- The Good and the Bad Little Pig (ca.1880, pencil and pen on paper, signed, featuring two pigs in human clothing: a piglet trots down a street playing a flute. A female pig stands beside an upturned apple cart and gesticulates with a stick at the piglet.)
- Good Friends
- Good Taste
- The Grand Procession
- In Great Difficulties
- The Guardian of the Greens
- Guarding the Chicks
- Guilty Conscience
- The Haggle
- How Dare You
- I Smell a Rat
- Kennel Companions (1870)
- The Little Calf
- A Little Girl Feeding Geese
- The Low Comedian's Reception
- Mother and Foal
- Music Hath Charms aka Music To Their Ears
- My Lady's at Home
- Not One of Us
- Outnumbered
- Patience is a virtue
- The Patient and the Quacks
- The Pawnbrokers (1872)
- Peasant Woman in Oval (original title unknown)
- The Pig's Picnic
- Piping the Piggies
- Prattlers and Cracklers
- Pride and Humility
- Quiet!
- The Sermon - A Raven Addressing a Gaggle of Geese
- A Siesta (1906)
- A Snap for the Lot
- A Spaniel Puppy
- Street Acrobats (1874, the junction of Regent and Conduit Streets)
- A Stump Oration (a crow lecturing 2 donkeys and geese near a pond)
- Suspicion (ca 1900, a soldier chased by geese through a hamlet)
- A Sweet Thing: Pigs in Bonnets
- Taunting the Geese (ca. 1890)
- Teaching the Puppy New Tricks
- A Terrier
- A Territorial Dispute
- This Comes Hopping You Are Well (1867)
- A Tug o War
- Trespassers
- Two of His Flock (1870s)
- Two Donkeys and a Carrion Crow (original title unknown)
- The Unruly Mob
- The Unruly Neighbors
- Unwelcome Guest
- An Unusual Visitor
- An Urban Council
- A Visitor
- Waiting Is a Virtue
- Washer Woman and Two Dandies (original title unknown)
- A Watchful Eye
- A Wee Bit Frightened
- Where Are They
- Which Way to Market
- Which Way to Cork
- You Are Sitting in My Nest
