John Gilbert (painter)
John Gilbert was born on the 21st of July 1817 in Blackheath, Surrey. He began his working life as an apprentice to a firm of estate agents. This career path did not suit him for long. He taught himself to paint by copying prints found in books and shops. His only formal instruction came from George Lance. Gilbert could not enter the Royal Academy Schools due to lack of funds or connections. He mastered watercolour, oils, and other media through sheer persistence. From 1836 he exhibited at the Society of British Artists. He started showing work at the Royal Academy in 1838.
Art patrons Thomas Sheepshanks and William Mulready suggested he learn wood engraving. They saw potential in his ability to capture historical moments. Gilbert gained the nickname "the Walter Scott of painting" after the famous Scottish novelist. Both men shared a passion for past eras and battle scenes. The art world recognized this unique focus early on. He designed over 2000 wood-engravings for publications like The Illustrated London News. These images brought history to life for Victorian readers. His style blended narrative detail with dramatic composition. Critics noted how he captured the spirit of earlier centuries.
Starting with Punch magazine, he moved on to the Illustrated London News. He also worked for The London Journal. Gilbert produced very many illustrations for books including nearly all important English poets. He created an impressive number of wood-engravings for those periodicals. Over 400 pictures were exhibited in watercolour and oil across various societies. His output remained prolific throughout his career. The Guildhall Art Gallery received a collection of his work from him in 1893. This donation preserved his legacy within the City of London. Many of these pieces remain accessible today through British national collections.
He illustrated William Shakespeare's Song and sonnets in 1862. Charles Lamb's Tales from Shakspere appeared with his drawings in 1866. A three-volume edition edited by Howard Stanton contained 829 illustrations by John Gilbert. Another version edited by Charles Knight included nearly 400 illustrations. An undated edition likely from circa 1895 held over 511 illustrations. His painting The Plays of William Shakespeare from around 1849 depicted scenes from every play. Nearly sixty oil paintings now reside in British national collections. These works defined how Victorians visualized Elizabethan drama.
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Common questions
When and where was John Gilbert born?
John Gilbert was born on the 21st of July 1817 in Blackheath, Surrey. He began his working life as an apprentice to a firm of estate agents before teaching himself to paint.
How did John Gilbert learn to paint without formal training at the Royal Academy Schools?
John Gilbert taught himself to paint by copying prints found in books and shops while receiving only one formal instruction from George Lance. He mastered watercolour, oils, and other media through sheer persistence after being unable to enter the Royal Academy Schools due to lack of funds or connections.
What nickname did art patrons give John Gilbert for his historical paintings?
Art patrons Thomas Sheepshanks and William Mulready gave John Gilbert the nickname the Walter Scott of painting because both men shared a passion for past eras and battle scenes. The art world recognized this unique focus early on when he designed over 2000 wood-engravings for publications like The Illustrated London News.
Which major periodicals did John Gilbert work for during his career?
John Gilbert worked for Punch magazine, The Illustrated London News, and The London Journal throughout his career. He produced very many illustrations for books including nearly all important English poets and created an impressive number of wood-engravings for those periodicals.
When did John Gilbert donate his collection to the Guildhall Art Gallery?
The Guildhall Art Gallery received a collection of John Gilbert's work from him in 1893. This donation preserved his legacy within the City of London and ensured that many pieces remain accessible today through British national collections.
How many oil paintings by John Gilbert now reside in British national collections?
Nearly sixty oil paintings by John Gilbert now reside in British national collections. These works defined how Victorians visualized Elizabethan drama after he painted The Plays of William Shakespeare from around 1849 which depicted scenes from every play.