Edward Ardizzone
Edward Ardizzone was a notable artist and author born on October 16, 1900, in Haiphong, French Indochina (now Vietnam), to a French father and a British mother. After moving to England in 1905, Ardizzone experienced a tumultuous childhood, marked by bullying and loneliness, but found solace in art. He pursued formal training, winning accolades like a bronze medal from the Royal Drawing Society, and eventually became a naturalized British citizen in 1922. Ardizzone's early career involved commercial art, but he gained recognition with his first children's book, *Little Tim and the Brave Sea Captain*, published in 1936, which drew inspiration from his family's nautical tales. During World War II, he served as an official war artist, capturing the realities of war through his drawings, which were later displayed at the Imperial War Museum. His contributions to children's literature earned him several honors, including the prestigious Kate Greenaway Medal in 1957 and a Commander of the Order of the British Empire title in 1971. Ardizzone created around twenty children's books, many of which remain beloved classics, showcasing his lasting impact on literature and art. He passed away on November 8, 1979.
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Edward Ardizzone
Illustrator
- Born: October 16, 1900
- Birthplace: Haiphong, French Indochina (now Vietnam)
- Died: November 8, 1979
- Place of death: Kent, England
Biography
Edward Ardizzone was born a French citizen on October 16, 1900, at Haiphong, French Indochina (now Vietnam), where his father, Auguste Ardizzone, worked for the Eastern Extension Telegraph Company. Ardizzone’s mother, Margaret Irving Ardizzone, was the granddaughter of a sea captain whose illustrated logbooks appealed to Ardizzone. Traveling to England in 1905, Ardizzone lived with his maternal grandmother. He read Beatrix Potter stories and admired her artwork.
When his parents returned to England in 1909, they enrolled Ardizzone in Ipswich Grammar School, where bullies terrorized him. He and his cousin Arthur played on the docks and on ships, inspiring his future stories. By 1912, Ardizzone’s parents had returned to Indochina and had placed their son in a boarding school. Ardizzone was lonely, but his art classes mitigated his unhappiness. He won a bronze medal from the Royal Drawing Society.
Ardizzone attempted to enlist in the military in 1918 but was rejected for service after a physical revealed a heart murmor. The dejected Ardizzone abandoned his artistic pursuits. He took shorthand and typing classes and earned income from clerical employment at several companies. Miserable, Ardizzone took night classes at the Westminster School of Art and drew London scenes and people. His father gave him {pounds}500, and Ardizzone quit his job to focus on his artistic pursuits. He was naturalized an English citizen in 1922. Ardizzone later met Catherine Anderson at a dance and they wed on April 2, 1929; the couple had a daughter and two sons.
Ardizzone produced commercial art to earn a living but disliked being a graphic artist. His 1930 Bloomsbury Gallery exhibit received good reviews but did not result in consistent sales or commissions. Inspired by his family’s sea tales, Ardizzone wrote and illustrated a story for his children. A friend employed by Clarendon Press recommended the manuscript to an editor and the company published Ardizzone’s first book, Little Tim and the Brave Sea Captain, in 1936. Ardizzone wrote and illustrated additional nautical adventures, often featuring places where he and his family had lived.
During World War II, Ardizzone was a war artist who accompanied allied troops throughout Europe and North Africa. He documented invasions, combat, and camp scenes. Ardizzone published his war diary and drawings, which were later displayed at the Imperial War Museum. He traveled to India in 1952 to teach silkscreen printing methods and taught at the Royal College of Art in London from 1953 to 1960.
The Library Association of Great Britain presented Ardizzone its initial Kate Greenaway Medal in 1957 for Tim All Alone. That novel also was selected as Great Britain’s best illustrated children’s book. Ardizzonne was further honored when he was named a Commander in the Order of the British Empire in 1971. He died on November 8, 1979.
Ardizzone created both text and art for approximately twenty children’s books. His books, popular when they were published, have remained classics in children’s literature, being recognized by scholars and critics as enduring works. Ardizzone was honored with the Lewis Carroll Shelf Award to acknowledge the continuing literary appeal of Little Tim and the Brave Sea Captain.