Arthur Augustus Dixon (8 May 1872 – 1959) was an English artist and illustrator who produced illustrations for authors such as Angela Brazil, Elsie J. Oxenham and Bessie Marchant.[1]
Life edit
Arthur was born and raised in St Pancras, London by his father, Richard Dixon, a grainer, and his mother Rosa. In 1887 his father passed away and Rosa moved with Arthur and his two brothers, Frederick and Herbert to Islington.[1]
In 1899, Arthur married Cecil Elsie Soweby in Steyning and together they had one daughter born a year later.[1] The two settled in Berkhamsted until Arthur Dixon passed away in 1959.[1][2]
Work edit
Arthur was a prolific illustrator in his time and made illustrations for reprints of around thirty-five classic works by Charles Dickens, Alfred, Lord Tennyson, Charles Kingsley, Victor Hugo, Elizabeth Gaskell and Washington Irving .[3][1][2] The style he employs has been termed 'neo-Pre-Raphaelite' which was indicative of his peers such as Byam Shaw or Eleanor Fortescue-Brickdale.[2]
He also exhibited paintings and drawings at such venues as Royal Academy of Arts, Royal Society of British Artists, as well as the New Gallery.[2]
List of Books illustrated by Arthur A. Dixon edit
- Stories from the Bible Illustrated by Arthur Dixon (London: Blackie & Son, 1914)
- Scripture Stories For Children Illustrated by Arthur Dixon (London: Blackie & Son, 1915)
- Hard Cash By Charles Reade
- The Poetical Works of Mathew Arnold
- The Manor House School by Angela Brazil
- Children's Stories From Russian Fairy Tales (Raphael Tuck & Sons)
- The Precious Gift by Theodora Wilson Wilson
- A Princess's Token by E. Everett-Green
List of Paintings by Arthur A. Dixon edit
Source:[4]
- Offerings (1902) [44 x 60 inches]
- Thomas More with his Daughters Entertaining Cardinal Wolsey [27.8 x 19.9 inches]
- Garden scene with a seated figure reading a book to the foreground, a woman and a young boy looking down a well and children dancing beyond, (1913) [47.6 x 31.9 inches]
- David Copperfield
- The Victor (1915)
- The Queen of Clubs (1902)
- Portrait of Lina Susan Penelope Norman
Legacy edit
One of his illustrations was sold at Christie's for £7,170 in 2003.[5]
Dixon was characterised by the Dictionary of British Book Illustrators as 'generally competent' and 'conventional and prosaic with sentimental overtones'.[1][6]
References edit
- ^ a b c d e f Archivist (2011-06-22). "Arthur A. Dixon: Artist". Historical articles and illustrations. Retrieved 2024-03-29.
- ^ a b c d "Offerings | Bagshawe Fine Art". www.bagshawes.com. Retrieved 2024-03-29.
- ^ "The Poetical Works of Alfred, Lord Tennyson".
- ^ "Arthur A Dixon". www.artnet.com. Retrieved 2024-04-01.
- ^ "The Queen of Clubs". Christie's. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
- ^ Peppin, Brigid; Micklethwait, Lucy (1983). Dictionary of British Book Illustrators: The Twentieth Century. London: Murray. pp. 85–6.