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WILLIAM GEORGE SHRUBSOLE  1855-1889

WILLIAM GEORGE SHRUBSOLE was a Landscape Artist born ca 1855 Maidstone, Kent, England and died 1889 Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester, Lancashire, England.

He was the eldest son of William & Sarah of Maidstone & in the 1871 census he was a pupil to an architect, so presumably his father had set him on a path for a career.  However by the 1881 census whilst staying at the Bull Hotel in Wrotham, Kent run by his uncle James (his father's youngest brother) he is described as a landscape artist.

I cannot find out much about his life but I have discovered there is an impressive example of his work in Maidstone Museum & Bently Art Gallery titled “The Heart of the Hills” & can be seen on this link
http://www.bbc.co.uk/arts/yourpaintings/artists/william-george-shrubsole

There is also an autographed manuscript of “The Ideal in Art” an unpublished lecture delivered at Bangor, North Wales in Dec 1886 by William George Shrubsole – on sale for £450;  it states it is an interesting personal statement by a neglected Victorian painter who died tragically young.  From this statement I assume he was not at all appreciated as a painter whilst alive.

There was also a water colour painting in an auction in April 2014 titled “Ogwen Valley” – a Snowdonian Scene.  I think copywright forbids me posting it here but if you google it then you should find it easily enough.  The guide price was £120-£150.

Here is a transcript from a newspaper obituary:

The North Wales Chronicle, Saturday, December 21, 1889.

 

THE LATE MR W.G.SHRUBSOLE


BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH


Mr W.G. Shrubsole, whose death at an early age of 33 has caused such a painful shock to his many friends at Bangor, was born at Maidstone in 1856.  His father was an iron founder, but the son’s distinguished success at the Maidstone School of Art led to his being articled to Mr Hubert Benstead, architect, of the same town.  The knowledge of perspective and exact drawing required for his profession laid an excellent foundation for the truth to nature that characterised his work in the wider field of landscape art to which he afterwards devoted his powers.  In 1874 he entered the office of Mr Richard Davies, architect, of this city, and afterwards he transferred his services to Mr Kennedy.  During these years his leisure time was employed in sketching among the mountains and by the shores of the Menai.  His friends were soon impressed and delighted by the rapid development of his powers; and in the Vale of Nant Ffrancon he acquired the friendship of Mr W.E. Bacon, an artist of deep feeling and a master of technique.  Under his guidance Mr Shrubsole made great advances, and the first large work he sent to the Royal Academy in 1881 was not only wall hung, but was sold on the opening day for one hundred guineas, the purchaser selling it in a few days for £210.  Mr Kennedy kindly gave him all the freedom he desired, and during the following year he painted two important gallery pictures, “The Crown of Fire” and “A Gusty Morning at Ogwen”.  These were hung at the Royal Academy in successive years, and were afterwards purchased by Mr John Roberts, M.P., and Mr Richard Davies, lord-lieutenant of Anglesey.  Encouraged by these successes and other important commissions, including one from Colonel Platt for four large water colours, he left the office of Mr Kennedy and devoted himself entirely to the art of dramatic landscape.  Almost every crag of the mountains surrounding Lakes Ogwen and Idwal has been rendered by him with powerful effect in every variety of light, cloud and mist.  One of his later works ‘Mountain Majesty’, was successively hung at the Royal Acadamy, and at the Birmingham, Manchester and Liverpool Exhibitions.   It was submitted to the Council of the Manchester Academy, and at once secured his election as an associate of that body.  This picture, with a large number of his works, has since been purchased by Mr James Watts of Manchester.

In 1883 Mr Shrubsole was married to Florence, daughter of the Rev John Chisman Bedolfe, and during these years his varied talents made him a valued addition not only to the artistic but also to the literary and social life of Bangor.  IN 1887 he was led by the increasing appreciation of his work in Manchester to remove to that city, where he soon became known, not only by his pictures, but also as a contributor to the press on art criticism.

For some years he had occasionally given his attention to etching;  and, influenced by the growing taste for this class of art, he made an especial study of the works of Hamerton and other masters.  Last year he wrote a ‘Manna’ of Etching’, which was purchased by Messrs Rowney & Sons, and has been published by them.  This work has a steady sale, not only in this country but also in America.  This spring he submitted his first important etched plate to Messrs T. Agnew and Sons, the famous art dealers.  It was purchased by them, and an impression of one hundred copies has been published.   Arrangements were made for an intended series of etchings of views round Manchester, and the last money he received was a cheque from Messrs Agnew and Sons for an etching of ‘Roatherne Mere’, which he had completed only a few days before his death.

With every prospect that he would soon have made a name among the painter-etchers of the day; and that success would soon brighten his home, which was happy in everything but freedom for continuous pecuniary pressure, his strength was gradually undermined by increasing weakness of the chest.  He never worked with greater zest and power than during the last few weeks of his life, and some pencil-drawings which he had prepared for future etchings surpassed in delicacy anything to which he had previously attained.  The keen excitement of continued work was too much for his frail body; and after bearing up and working within three days of his death, he died at Withington, on the night of the 11th inst.

The anxieties of the struggle that usually characterises the commencement of an artistic career were in his case intensified by the fact that before his marriage he had lent considerable sums of money to his relations, and subsequent responsibilities connected with this subject hampered him exceedingly.  This is named, not to cause pain to anyone, but to clear Mr Shrubsole from any imputation that he had not made the most of his opportunities and provided for his family.  His failing health had debarred him from the active effort needed for the sale of all his work, and it is hoped that the valuable pictures recently exhibited at the Royal Cambrian Academy, and those now in the Manchester Exhibition will, with others in his studio, make some provision for the immediate necessities of his widow and two children.

On Wednesday evening a few of his friends met to consider how best they might assist Mrs Shrubsole in these trying circumstances, and it was decided to defer taking any further steps until definite information is obtained as to the pecuniary position in which she will be faced.

From The North Wales Chronicle, Saturday, December 21, 1889.