James Pryde
Encyclopedia
James Pryde was a Scottish artist who worked mainly in graphics. He was a painter of architectural fantasies and interiors, a lithographer
and designer of posters.
1886–7. His early works (1886–90) included portraits in oil and charcoal, watercolours and pastels. He then studied for three months under William-Adolphe Bouguereau
at the Académie Julian
, Paris
, and soon after his return to Britain settled in London around 1890.
married William Nicholson
, after the two had met while studying at the Bushey School of Art. Pryde and Nicholson formed the Beggarstaff Brothers
partnership, which lasted only until about 1900, exploiting woodcuts in particular in innovative poster design. The posters they designed attracted public attention and influenced the art of poster design.
Between 1894 and 1899 Pryde tried his hand as an actor, playing small parts in several plays. Ellen Terry
's son Edward Gordon Craig
, with whom Pryde toured Scotland in 1895, described 'Jimmy' as 'one of the best painters who ever lived' and 'one of the biggest hearts on earth'. But Craig had no illusions about Pryde's dramatic ability:
He was an associate of the International Society from 1901 and Vice-President in 1921. His first one-man exhibition was held at the Baillie Gallery in 1911. He also exhibited at the Goupil Gallery, the Leicester Galleries, the Grosvenor Gallery
, London Salon, New English Art Club
, Royal Hibernian Academy
, Royal Glasgow Institute of the Fine Arts
and Royal Scottish Academy
. In 1934 he was elected an honorary member of the Royal Institute of Oil Painters
.
He produced little new work after 1925, though he designed the sets for Paul Robeson
's Othello
at the Savoy Theatre
in 1930.
Pryde died on 24 February 1941 in Kensington, London.
In 1949 an Arts Council
Memorial Exhibition toured Edinburgh, Brighton and London (Tate Gallery
).
Lithography
Lithography is a method for printing using a stone or a metal plate with a completely smooth surface...
and designer of posters.
Early years
James Ferrier Pryde was born in Edinburgh on the 30 January 1866. He studied at the Royal Scottish AcademyRoyal Scottish Academy
The Royal Scottish Academy is a Scottish organisation that promotes contemporary Scottish art. Founded in 1826, as the Royal Institution for the Encouragement of the Fine Arts, the RSA maintains a unique position in Scotland as an independently funded institution led by eminent artists and...
1886–7. His early works (1886–90) included portraits in oil and charcoal, watercolours and pastels. He then studied for three months under William-Adolphe Bouguereau
William-Adolphe Bouguereau
William-Adolphe Bouguereau was a French academic painter. William Bouguereau was a traditionalist; in his realistic genre paintings he used mythological themes, making modern interpretations of Classical subjects, with an emphasis on the female human body.-Life and career :William-Adolphe...
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...
, 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...
, and soon after his return to Britain settled in London around 1890.
Career
In 1893 his sister MabelMabel 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....
married William Nicholson
William 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....
, after the two had met while studying at the Bushey School of Art. Pryde and Nicholson formed the Beggarstaff Brothers
Beggarstaff, J. & W.
The Beggarstaff Brothers, officially known as Beggarstaff, J. & W., was the appellation under which the British illustrators, William Nicholson and James Pryde, published their celebrated posters....
partnership, which lasted only until about 1900, exploiting woodcuts in particular in innovative poster design. The posters they designed attracted public attention and influenced the art of poster design.
Between 1894 and 1899 Pryde tried his hand as an actor, playing small parts in several plays. Ellen Terry
Ellen Terry
Dame Ellen Terry, GBE was an English stage actress who became the leading Shakespearean actress in Britain. Among the members of her famous family is her great nephew, John Gielgud....
's son Edward Gordon Craig
Edward Gordon Craig
Edward Henry Gordon Craig , sometimes known as Gordon Craig, was an English modernist theatre practitioner; he worked as an actor, director and scenic designer, as well as developing an influential body of theoretical writings...
, with whom Pryde toured Scotland in 1895, described 'Jimmy' as 'one of the best painters who ever lived' and 'one of the biggest hearts on earth'. But Craig had no illusions about Pryde's dramatic ability:
as an actor he never really existed: but the idea of acting, the idea of the theatre – or rather the smell of the place, meant a lot to him. Yes, I think he got much 'inspiration' from the boards – and the thought and feel of it all, as of a magical place ...
He was an associate of the International Society from 1901 and Vice-President in 1921. His first one-man exhibition was held at the Baillie Gallery in 1911. He also exhibited at the Goupil Gallery, the Leicester Galleries, the Grosvenor Gallery
Grosvenor Gallery
The 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...
, London Salon, New English Art Club
New English Art Club
The New English Art Club was founded in London in 1885 as an alternate venue to the Royal Academy.-History:Young English artists returning from studying art in Paris mounted the first exhibition of the New English Art Club in April 1886...
, Royal Hibernian Academy
Royal Hibernian Academy
The Royal Hibernian Academy is an artist-based and artist-oriented institution in Ireland, founded in Dublin in 1823.-History:The RHA was founded as the result of 30 Irish artists petitioning the government for a charter of incorporation...
, Royal Glasgow Institute of the Fine Arts
Royal Glasgow Institute of the Fine Arts
The 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...
and Royal Scottish Academy
Royal Scottish Academy
The Royal Scottish Academy is a Scottish organisation that promotes contemporary Scottish art. Founded in 1826, as the Royal Institution for the Encouragement of the Fine Arts, the RSA maintains a unique position in Scotland as an independently funded institution led by eminent artists and...
. In 1934 he was elected an honorary member of the Royal Institute of Oil Painters
Royal Institute of Oil Painters
The 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:...
.
He produced little new work after 1925, though he designed the sets for Paul Robeson
Paul Robeson
Paul Leroy Robeson was an American concert singer , recording artist, actor, athlete, scholar who was an advocate for the Civil Rights Movement in the first half of the twentieth century...
's Othello
Othello
The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written in approximately 1603, and based on the Italian short story "Un Capitano Moro" by Cinthio, a disciple of Boccaccio, first published in 1565...
at the Savoy Theatre
Savoy Theatre
The Savoy Theatre is a West End theatre located in the Strand in the City of Westminster, London, England. The theatre opened on 10 October 1881 and was built by Richard D'Oyly Carte on the site of the old Savoy Palace as a showcase for the popular series of comic operas of Gilbert and Sullivan,...
in 1930.
Pryde died on 24 February 1941 in Kensington, London.
In 1949 an Arts Council
Arts council
An arts council is a government or private, non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the arts mainly by funding local artists, awarding prizes, and organizing events at home and abroad...
Memorial Exhibition toured Edinburgh, Brighton and London (Tate Gallery
Tate
-Places:*Tate, Georgia, a town in the United States*Tate County, Mississippi, a county in the United States*Táté, the Hungarian name for Totoi village, Sântimbru Commune, Alba County, Romania*Tate, Filipino word for States...
).
External sources
- World Wide Art Resources; examples of artwork