Robin Tanner
Encyclopedia
Robin Tanner was an English
artist, etcher and printmaker. He followed in the visionary tradition of Samuel Palmer
and English neo-romanticism
. He lived in London, at Kington Langley
, in Wiltshire
, and Bath.
. He had been inspired by the major Samuel Palmer retrospective exhibition organised by Martin Hardie
in London in 1926, and his first etching was made in that year. He was particularly moved by Palmer's early period Shoreham
works which had been so influential on fellow students such as Paul Drury
, William Larkins
and Graham Sutherland
. He also acknowledged his admiration for the technical craftsmanship of the older etcher, F.L. Griggs.
Tanner was thus part of the etching
revival in England, but the market for etchings collapsed following the economic depression of 1929, and by the growing use of photography for illustration.
Tanner turned to teaching to earn his livelihood. His passion for teaching fine art to young children was infused into many English counties through his role as H.M. Inspector of Schools in primary schools from 1935 to 1964. Tanner believed that the study of natural things and the exploration of arts and crafts, music and poetry were essential for the development of teachers and children. At the Ministry of Education
, he ran courses for primary teachers, often with Christian Schiller
.
Following his retirement in 1964, Tanner took up printmaking again with dedication. He also had a sideline in topographical graphic book illustration, collaborating with his wife, Heather Spackman, whom he had married in 1931, and he published a number of books on printmaking aimed at children. Wiltshire Village was reprinted as late as 1978, and became a best seller. In 1932 they had moved into the house they built outside Chippenham
, Old Chapel Field, where the diarist Francis Kilvert
's ancestors lie buried. They lived there for the rest of their lives. He was a founder and benefactor of the [Crafts Study Centre]http://www.csc.ucreative.ac.uk, now at Farnham
, Surrey
.
His later work, such as Woodland Plants, shows the influence of William Morris
.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
artist, etcher and printmaker. He followed in the visionary tradition of Samuel Palmer
Samuel Palmer
Samuel Palmer was a British landscape painter, etcher and printmaker. He was also a prolific writer. Palmer was a key figure in Romanticism in Britain and produced visionary pastoral paintings.-Early life:...
and English neo-romanticism
Neo-romanticism
The term neo-romanticism is used to cover a variety of movements in music, painting and architecture. It has been used with reference to very late 19th century and early 20th century composers such as Gustav Mahler particularly by Carl Dahlhaus who uses it as synonymous with late Romanticism...
. He lived in London, at Kington Langley
Kington Langley
Kington Langley is a village and civil parish about north of Chippenham in Wiltshire, England.-Geography:The parish covers about . The geology is mostly of the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods. It is on a high water table and the soil is composed of sand with a sub-soil of Oxford Clay. The village...
, in Wiltshire
Wiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
, and Bath.
Biography
His etchings began following night-school classes at Goldsmiths College in LondonLondon
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...
. He had been inspired by the major Samuel Palmer retrospective exhibition organised by Martin Hardie
Martin Hardie
Martin Hardie is a Scottish association football midfielder who currently plays for Dunfermline Athletic.Upon joining his previous club, St. Johnstone, Hardie was suspended for the opening game of the 2006–07 season. He marked his debut for the club just three days later with a goal in a...
in London in 1926, and his first etching was made in that year. He was particularly moved by Palmer's early period Shoreham
Shoreham, Kent
Shoreham is a village and civil parish in the valley of the River Darent six miles north of Sevenoaks in Kent: it is in the District of Sevenoaks. The parish includes the settlements of Badgers Mount and Well Hill....
works which had been so influential on fellow students such as Paul Drury
Paul Drury
Paul Drury was an artist and printmaker born Albert Paul Dalou Drury in Brockley, London, the son of sculptor Alfred Drury.-Early life:...
, William Larkins
William Larkins
William Larkins was a member of the Royal Society elected 14 April 1796He was formerly an accountant in Bengal for the British East India Company.-References:...
and Graham Sutherland
Graham Sutherland
Graham Vivien Sutherland OM was an English artist.-Early life:He was born in Streatham, attending Homefield Preparatory School, Sutton. He was then educated at Epsom College, Surrey before going up to Goldsmiths, University of London...
. He also acknowledged his admiration for the technical craftsmanship of the older etcher, F.L. Griggs.
Tanner was thus part of the etching
Etching
Etching is the process of using strong acid or mordant to cut into the unprotected parts of a metal surface to create a design in intaglio in the metal...
revival in England, but the market for etchings collapsed following the economic depression of 1929, and by the growing use of photography for illustration.
Tanner turned to teaching to earn his livelihood. His passion for teaching fine art to young children was infused into many English counties through his role as H.M. Inspector of Schools in primary schools from 1935 to 1964. Tanner believed that the study of natural things and the exploration of arts and crafts, music and poetry were essential for the development of teachers and children. At the Ministry of Education
Ministry of Education (United Kingdom)
The administration of education policy in the United Kingdom began in the 19th century. Official mandation of education began with the Elementary Education Act 1870 for England and Wales, and the Education Act 1872 for Scotland...
, he ran courses for primary teachers, often with Christian Schiller
Christian Schiller
Louis Christian Schiller MC , known as Christian Schiller, was HM Inspector of Schools in the United Kingdom and a promoter of progressive ideas in primary education....
.
Following his retirement in 1964, Tanner took up printmaking again with dedication. He also had a sideline in topographical graphic book illustration, collaborating with his wife, Heather Spackman, whom he had married in 1931, and he published a number of books on printmaking aimed at children. Wiltshire Village was reprinted as late as 1978, and became a best seller. In 1932 they had moved into the house they built outside Chippenham
Chippenham
Chippenham may be:* Chippenham, Wiltshire* Chippenham * Chippenham, Cambridgeshire-See also:* Virginia State Route 150, also known as Chippenham Parkway, USA* Cippenham, Berkshire, UK...
, Old Chapel Field, where the diarist Francis Kilvert
Francis Kilvert
Robert Francis Kilvert , always known as Francis, or Frank, was born at The Rectory, Hardenhuish Lane, near Chippenham, Wiltshire, to the Rev. Robert Kilvert, Rector of Langley Burrell, Wiltshire, and Thermuthis, daughter of Walter Coleman and Thermuthis Ashe...
's ancestors lie buried. They lived there for the rest of their lives. He was a founder and benefactor of the [Crafts Study Centre]http://www.csc.ucreative.ac.uk, now at Farnham
Farnham
Farnham is a town in Surrey, England, within the Borough of Waverley. The town is situated some 42 miles southwest of London in the extreme west of Surrey, adjacent to the border with Hampshire...
, Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
.
His later work, such as Woodland Plants, shows the influence of 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...
.
Personal papers and works
- His etchingEtchingEtching is the process of using strong acid or mordant to cut into the unprotected parts of a metal surface to create a design in intaglio in the metal...
plates are now held at the Ashmolean MuseumAshmolean MuseumThe Ashmolean Museum on Beaumont Street, Oxford, England, is the world's first university museum...
, OxfordOxfordThe city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
. - Robin Tanner's personal papers regarding his educational work can be found in the Archives of the Institute of EducationInstitute of EducationThe Institute of Education is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom specialised in postgraduate study and research in the field of education and a constituent college of the federal University of London. It is the largest education research body in the United Kingdom, with...
, University of London, (Ref: DC/BTA) http://ioewebserver.ioe.ac.uk/ioe/cms/get.asp?cid=9347&9347_0=15336. - University of BristolUniversity of BristolThe University of Bristol is a public research university located in Bristol, United Kingdom. One of the so-called "red brick" universities, it received its Royal Charter in 1909, although its predecessor institution, University College, Bristol, had been in existence since 1876.The University is...
Special Collections holds letters written by Robin Tanner, along with some sketches, collected verses, and draft and final versions of his autobiography and volume of collected letters, (Ref: DM 1450)http://www.bris.ac.uk/is/library/collections/specialcollections/archives/#robint. - The Crafts Study Centre hold the Robin and Heather TannerHeather TannerHeather Tanner , née Heather Muriel Spackman, was a writer and campaigner on issues relating to peace, the environment and social justice...
collection which includes personal documents; correspondence; sketches, drawings, prints and etchings by Robin and Heather Tanner; notebooks and commonplace books kept by Heather TannerHeather TannerHeather Tanner , née Heather Muriel Spackman, was a writer and campaigner on issues relating to peace, the environment and social justice...
; travel journals; and written work by Heather Tanner http://www.csc.ucreative.ac.uk/index.cfm?articleid=3899.
Retrospectives
- Ashmolean Museum of Art, Oxford, 1981. "Robin Tanner".
- The Fine Art Society, London, 2004. "Visions of Landscape: Samuel Palmer & Robin Tanner".
Further reading
- Robin Garton (1988), Robin Tanner: The Etchings. ISBN 0-906030-21-8
- Barley Roscoe, 'Robin Tanner and the Crafts Study Centre' in Barley Roscoe (ed.) Tributes to Robin Tanner 1904-1988 (Holburne Museum and Crafts Study Centre, Bath, 1990)