Nelson Dawson
Encyclopedia
Nelson Ethelred Dawson was an English artist and member of the Arts and Crafts movement
.
Dawson was born in Stamford
, Lincolnshire
and educated at Stamford School
. He moved to London, where he operated his workshop first from Chelsea
and in due course from the rear of his townhouse in Chiswick
. He exhibited his art throughout England including at the Royal Academy
and was elected an Associate of the Royal Society of Painters in Water Colours
and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Engravers.
As a potter, watercolour painter, jeweller, silversmith, metalworker, etcher, print-maker and writer on artistic subjects, his reputation has probably suffered because he spread his talents too thinly. Nevertheless, both the British Museum
and the Victoria & Albert Museum hold collections of his work and papers. He married Edith Robinson in 1893 and together with his wife, he was one of the key figures in the jewellery of the Arts and Crafts movement.
Edith learned enamelling from her husband who had been taught by Alexander Fisher
, a master enameller who in turn had learned his craft in France. Together, they revived the Renaissance
practice of enamelling in their jewellery.
The bronze organ grill in Holy Trinity church
, Sloane Street, Chelsea (described by Poet Laureate, John Betjeman
as the "Cathedral of the Arts & Crafts Movement") is Dawson’s work and it takes its place beside treasures by William Morris
and Edward Burne-Jones
. Other commissions included a trowel and mallet and trowel used by Queen Victoria in her last public appearance, laying the foundation stone of the Victoria & Albert Museum in 1899, the casket presented to U.S. President Woodrow Wilson
on his visit to England en route to the Paris Peace Conference, 1919
, lavish bath fittings for Viscount Hambleden
in copper and silver, and the gates of Hull Guildhall
.
In 1901, Dawson founded The Artificers' Guild from his workshop in Chiswick but it was acquired by Montague Fordham
(one time director of the Birmingham Guild and School of Handicrafts
) in 1903.
He is noted for his maritime scenes.
Dawson left many of his pictures to Stamford School
but although a number of etchings and watercolours still decorate the walls of the school, not all were stored or displayed properly and some canvasses were even painted over by pupils.
A retrospective of his work at Stamford Museum
closed on 26 January 2008. Georgetown University
Library in 2009 hosted an exhibition of his marine views called Etched by the Sea.
Arts and Crafts movement
Arts and Crafts was an international design philosophy that originated in England and flourished between 1860 and 1910 , continuing its influence until the 1930s...
.
Dawson was born in Stamford
Stamford, Lincolnshire
Stamford is a town and civil parish within the South Kesteven district of the county of Lincolnshire, England. It is approximately to the north of London, on the east side of the A1 road to York and Edinburgh and on the River Welland...
, Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire is a county in the east of England. It borders Norfolk to the south east, Cambridgeshire to the south, Rutland to the south west, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire to the west, South Yorkshire to the north west, and the East Riding of Yorkshire to the north. It also borders...
and educated at Stamford School
Stamford School
Stamford School is an English independent school situated in the market town of Stamford, Lincolnshire, England. It has been a member of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference since 1920.-History:...
. He moved to London, where he operated his workshop first from Chelsea
Chelsea, London
Chelsea is an area of West London, England, bounded to the south by the River Thames, where its frontage runs from Chelsea Bridge along the Chelsea Embankment, Cheyne Walk, Lots Road and Chelsea Harbour. Its eastern boundary was once defined by the River Westbourne, which is now in a pipe above...
and in due course from the rear of his townhouse in Chiswick
Chiswick
Chiswick is a large suburb of west London, England and part of the London Borough of Hounslow. It is located on a meander of the River Thames, west of Charing Cross and is one of 35 major centres identified in the London Plan. It was historically an ancient parish in the county of Middlesex, with...
. He exhibited his art throughout England including at 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...
and was elected an Associate of the Royal Society of Painters in Water Colours
Royal Watercolour Society
The Royal Watercolour Society is an English institution of painters working in watercolours...
and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Engravers.
As a potter, watercolour painter, jeweller, silversmith, metalworker, etcher, print-maker and writer on artistic subjects, his reputation has probably suffered because he spread his talents too thinly. Nevertheless, both the British Museum
British Museum
The British Museum is a museum of human history and culture in London. Its collections, which number more than seven million objects, are amongst the largest and most comprehensive in the world and originate from all continents, illustrating and documenting the story of human culture from its...
and the Victoria & Albert Museum hold collections of his work and papers. He married Edith Robinson in 1893 and together with his wife, he was one of the key figures in the jewellery of the Arts and Crafts movement.
Edith learned enamelling from her husband who had been taught by Alexander Fisher
Alexander Fisher
Alexander FisherAliases: Sash Fisher, A. S. Fisher, Alex Fisher, Alexander Fisher, A. Fisher, F. Fisher, Alex, Fisher, Sacha FisherBorn: December 25, 1903 in pre-Revolutionary Russia - escaped in 1917...
, a master enameller who in turn had learned his craft in France. Together, they revived the Renaissance
Renaissance
The Renaissance was a cultural movement that spanned roughly the 14th to the 17th century, beginning in Italy in the Late Middle Ages and later spreading to the rest of Europe. The term is also used more loosely to refer to the historical era, but since the changes of the Renaissance were not...
practice of enamelling in their jewellery.
The bronze organ grill in Holy Trinity church
Holy Trinity Sloane Street
Holy Trinity Sloane Street is a London Anglican parish church, built 1888-90 at the south-eastern side of Sloane Street to a striking Arts & Crafts design by the architect John Dando Sedding at the cost of the 5th Earl Cadogan, in whose London estate it lay...
, Sloane Street, Chelsea (described by Poet Laureate, John Betjeman
John Betjeman
Sir John Betjeman, CBE was an English poet, writer and broadcaster who described himself in Who's Who as a "poet and hack".He was a founding member of the Victorian Society and a passionate defender of Victorian architecture...
as the "Cathedral of the Arts & Crafts Movement") is Dawson’s work and it takes its place beside treasures by William Morris
William Morris
William Morris 24 March 18343 October 1896 was an English textile designer, artist, writer, and socialist associated with the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood and the English Arts and Crafts Movement...
and Edward Burne-Jones
Edward Burne-Jones
Sir Edward Coley Burne-Jones, 1st Baronet was a British artist and designer closely associated with the later phase of the Pre-Raphaelite movement, who worked closely with William Morris on a wide range of decorative arts as a founding partner in Morris, Marshall, Faulkner, and Company...
. Other commissions included a trowel and mallet and trowel used by Queen Victoria in her last public appearance, laying the foundation stone of the Victoria & Albert Museum in 1899, the casket presented to U.S. President Woodrow Wilson
Woodrow Wilson
Thomas Woodrow Wilson was the 28th President of the United States, from 1913 to 1921. A leader of the Progressive Movement, he served as President of Princeton University from 1902 to 1910, and then as the Governor of New Jersey from 1911 to 1913...
on his visit to England en route to the Paris Peace Conference, 1919
Paris Peace Conference, 1919
The Paris Peace Conference was the meeting of the Allied victors following the end of World War I to set the peace terms for the defeated Central Powers following the armistices of 1918. It took place in Paris in 1919 and involved diplomats from more than 32 countries and nationalities...
, lavish bath fittings for Viscount Hambleden
Viscount Hambleden
Viscount Hambleden, of Hambleden in the County of Buckinghamshire, is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1891 for Emily Danvers Smith, in honour of her deceased husband, the businessman and Conservative politician William Henry Smith...
in copper and silver, and the gates of Hull Guildhall
Guildhall, Kingston upon Hull
The Guildhall is a building on Alfred Gelder Street in the City of Kingston upon Hull. The building is currently the headquarters of Hull City Council but is also used as a venue for conferences, civic receptions and formal dinners...
.
In 1901, Dawson founded The Artificers' Guild from his workshop in Chiswick but it was acquired by Montague Fordham
Montague Fordham
Montague Edward Fordham was an English agriculturalist and advocate of rural reform. He belonged to the Religious Society of Friends....
(one time director of the Birmingham Guild and School of Handicrafts
Birmingham Guild and School of Handicrafts
Birmingham Guild of Handicraft was an arts & crafts organisation operating in Birmingham, England. Its motto was 'By Hammer and Hand'.It began as a loose part of the Birmingham Kyrle Society, then became a more fully formed group within the Kyrle Society in 1890, under the leadership of the...
) in 1903.
He is noted for his maritime scenes.
Dawson left many of his pictures to Stamford School
Stamford School
Stamford School is an English independent school situated in the market town of Stamford, Lincolnshire, England. It has been a member of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference since 1920.-History:...
but although a number of etchings and watercolours still decorate the walls of the school, not all were stored or displayed properly and some canvasses were even painted over by pupils.
A retrospective of his work at Stamford Museum
Stamford Museum
Stamford Museum was located in Stamford, Lincolnshire in Great Britain. It was housed in a Victorian building in Broad Street, Stamford and was run by the museum services of Lincolnshire County Council from 1980 to 2011.-The building and area:...
closed on 26 January 2008. Georgetown University
Georgetown University
Georgetown University is a private, Jesuit, research university whose main campus is in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded in 1789, it is the oldest Catholic university in the United States...
Library in 2009 hosted an exhibition of his marine views called Etched by the Sea.
Further reading
- Nelson and Edith Dawson, silversmiths and decorative artists: Victoria & Albert Museum papers, 1822-1939. AAD/1987/7, AAD/1988/8, AAD/1991/9, AAD/1992/4