He was born on August 15, 1845 in Liverpool, England.
1845 - 1915
Walter Crane is an English painter and graphic artist, illustrator, designer, writer and publicist. Walter Crane achieved popularity as a children’s book illustrator, talented not only in illustrating novels of classics but also his works.
The first teacher of the artist was his family member – his father Thomas Crane, who professionally studied painting and was known as a wonderful miniature master. In his father’s studio, Walter took his first steps in the visual arts, drawing numerous portraits, scenes from everyday life, nature – everything that surrounded him. Noticing his son’s ability to paint, he sent him to study at the engraving workshop of William Linton, whose radical moods influenced the worldview of the beginning artist to a large extent. In particular, made him interested in socialist ideas.
The artist was engaged in the design of several magazines, created sketches of tapestries, textiles, carpets, mosaics, ceramics and stained glass. He was a manager of the exhibitions of the Society of Arts and Crafts, which had a significant influence on the development of applied art and design throughout the world. Crane was also engaged in teaching, wrote several scientific works in the field of design, which were in high demand throughout Europe. Since 1898, the artist held a responsible post as a head of the Royal College of Art in London. The artist’s works are in the Louvre; the Uffizi Gallery (Florence) ordered him a self-portrait.
Key ideas:
– The work of Walter Crane, which reached its heyday at the turn of the twentieth and nineteenth centuries, is part of a pan-European movement for the renewal of art. It demonstrated the fusion of all kinds of artistic expression into a single whole and the formation of a new attitude towards the consumer. The artist’s work covered a wide range of spheres: painting, design, applied art and literature.
– At the beginning of his career, Cran engaged exclusively in painting. His paintings evolved from academic portraits and landscapes to complex philosophical paintings, saturated with symbols and allusions. However, he showed himself the most clearly as an illustrator of children’s fairy tales – such as Little Red Riding Hood, Prince Frog, Sleeping Beauty and many others (he created rich illustrations for more than fifty books).
– The artist believed that the illustration should develop the artistic taste of the child and at the same time, be easy to perceive and colourful. This can be achieved with the help of simple, laconic forms and bright open colours, which children like so much. This approach has fully justified itself. Books, designed by the artist, were extremely popular and in-demand among the public. An expressive, clear line, dynamic composition and bright imagination of the artist caused admiration not only in children but also in adults. Walter Crane became a founder of a completely new approach to the design of the children’s book and revolutionized this direction. Among the “adult” authors, whose works the artist illustrated, was his favourite poet Shelley.
– In addition, the artist played a large role in the development of design art. Unlike the Pre-Raphaelites, whose aesthetics were sublime and far from the people, Crane did much to bring art into the everyday life of all classes. Together with publisher Edmund Evans, he created a series of inexpensive cognitive books for children, and also dealt with the design of various consumer goods: furniture, wallpapers, carpets, ceramic tiles and much more. Thanks to Walter Crane, British art was enriched with fine examples of applied art in the style of art nouveau.
1845
1860
1862
1865
1871
1888
1892
1895
1900
1912 - 1915
1915
He was born on August 15, 1845 in Liverpool, England.
Met Edmund Evans, a publisher, who was an innovator in the production of inexpensive color printing. Together they started mass production of children’s books, available for an average consumer.
The artist presented his work “Lady Shalotta” at the exhibition at the Royal Academy (in this painting, the influence of the art of pre-Raphaelites is noticeable) and became one of the leaders of the Community of young artists who exhibited their works, which were regularly declined by the Academy, at the more affordable Dudley Gallery.
The acquaintance with John Ruskin became decisive for the creative destiny of the artist. The famous philosopher, critic, writer and artist had a profound influence on the formation of Crane’s style, his choice of topics, because he instilled into him revolutionary views and a love for freedom. The struggle for rights and equality stimulated interest in politics. Crane became a member of the Liberal Party, a supporter of socialist trends.
The artist married and traveled to Italy, where he studied the works of masters of the Renaissance. He visited Rome, Verona and Venice, as well as Florence, where he was impressed by the paintings of Botticelli. In the same year, he met his idol E. Burne-Jones and William Morris, who became a close friend of the artist for many years and subsequently a colleague in the movement for the revival of forgotten arts and crafts.
Became one of the organizers and the first president of the Society of Arts and Crafts, the purpose of which he saw in bringing art into everyday life. The artist started creating the design of textiles, wallpapers and other interior items.
Published his treatise “The Tasks of Decorative Arts”.
Was elected an honorary member of the Munich Academy. At the same time, he became the director of the Manchester School of Art, which he headed for a long time. A book “Decorative book illustration” was published in 1896. From 1897, Crane headed the Royal College of Art, wrote the textbook “The Basics of Drawing.”
Leaving the post of the director of the college that interfered with his art and literary work, he wrote the book “Lines and shapes” and other books, including memoirs.
Created his self-portrait to order of the Florentine Uffizi Gallery. The wife of the artist tragically died, having got under the train, and three months later Walter Crane himself, who was unable to survive the death of his faithful spouse (44 years of marriage), was no more.
He passed away on March 14, 1915 in Horsham, West Sussex, Great Britain.
flow
Symbolism
friends
William Morris
Simeon Solomon
artists
Edward Burne-Jones
Sandro Botticelli
Thomas Crane
William James Linton
John Ruskin
Andrea Mantegna
Vittore Carpaccio
Gentile Bellini
flow
Neo-romanticism
Modern
friends
Heywood Sumner
Philip Spikmen Webb
Edward Onslow Ford
artists
Louis Comfort Tiffany