William Nicholson
William Nicholson was a prominent English artist born in Newark-on-Trent in 1872. He faced early challenges with reading but discovered his talent for drawing at a young age, particularly in caricature. His formal art education began at Magnus Grammar School, followed by further training under artist Herbert von Herkomer and briefly at the Academie Julian in Paris, where he immersed himself in the works of contemporary masters. Nicholson's career took off when he partnered with his brother-in-law, Jimmy Pryde, to create theatrical posters, leading to the establishment of their successful collaboration, J. & W. Beggarstaff. In addition to poster art, he produced notable wood engravings and children's book illustrations, with "The Velveteen Rabbit" being among his most recognized works. After personal losses and a second marriage, Nicholson focused on landscapes and still life painting, showcasing his versatility as an artist. His contributions to the art world were honored in 1936 when he was knighted for his achievements.
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William Nicholson
- Born: February 5, 1872
- Birthplace: Newark-on-Trent, England
- Died: May 16, 1949
Biography
William Nicholson was born in Newark-on-Trent, England, in 1872, the youngest child of William Nicholson and Ann Elizabeth Prior. As a child, he experienced difficulty with reading and learned to read by studying the captions to illustrations. He attended the local public school, Magnus Grammar School. By the age of twelve he found that he had a talent for caricature, and he often drew likenesses of his teachers. He began to take drawing lessons from the school’s art master, and eventually he was also taught to paint. After four years of study, he entered an art school founded by artist Herbert von Herkomer. While at the school, he became friendly with Mabel Pryde, whose brother, Jimmy Pryde, had already achieved some success as an artist. After an argument with Herkomer, and at the urging of Jimmy Pryde, Nicholson enrolled at the Academie Julian in Paris.
Nicholson attended the Academie Julian for only six months. He was appalled by the lack of authority at the school and by the absence of formal art instruction. He often escaped to the streets of Paris where he became familiar with the work of artists Henri de Toulouse-Latrec and Edouard Manet. He returned to his parent’s home and established a small studio in the garden. During his time in Paris, Nicholson became more attached to Mabel Pryde, and the couple was married in April, 1893. After returning from their honeymoon, the couple moved to Denham, Buckinghamshire, setting up their residence in a former public house called Eight Bells.
In 1894, Nicholson began collaborating with his brother-in- law, Jimmy Pryde. They were asked by an actor friend to produce a poster for a production of William Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Their design was so favorably received that they produced a collector’s version of the poster. After the initial success of their first poster, the two formed a partnership called J. & W. Beggarstaff. They continued to have success producing theatrical posters, although their more commercial posters were largely unsuccessful as advertising media.
In addition to his work with J. & W. Beggarstaff, Nicholson took an interest in wood engraving. Some time after 1895, he began a series of wood engravings of farm and domesticated animals, probably to amuse his children. These engravings were published in two children’s books, An Alphabet (1898) and The Square Book of Animals (1900). Eventually, financial concerns forced Nicholson to give up engraving. He began to paint book illustrations, and he eventually became a portrait artist. Following the death of his first wife, and his second marriage to a wealthy woman, Nicholson devoted himself to painting landscapes and still lives.
Although Nicholson wrote several books, including An Alphabet and The Square Book of Animals, he is best remembered for his illustrations. Of these illustrations, perhaps his best-known work was for Margery Williams Bianco’s famous children’s book, The Velveteen Rabbit. In 1936, Nicholson was knighted in recognition of his artistic work.