Eli Marsden Wilson, A.R.E., A.R.C.E. (24 June 1877[1] – 13 November 1965[2]) was an English artist who had 17 pictures exhibited at the Royal Academy.

Eli Marsden Wilson

A.R.E., A.R.C.E.
Born(1877-06-24)24 June 1877
Ossett, Yorkshire, England
Died13 November 1965(1965-11-13) (aged 88)
Acton, London, England
NationalityEnglish
EducationWakefield College of Art
Alma materRoyal College of Art
OccupationArtist
SpouseHilda Mary Pemberton
Parent(s)Alfred Wilson
Emma Marsden

He was born in Ossett, Yorkshire, the only son of Alfred Wilson, a foreman beamer, and Emma Marsden,[1] and had five sisters.[1]

After studying at Wakefield College of Art, he moved to the Royal College of Art in London, where he became a pupil of Sir Frank Short. The first picture Wilson exhibited at the R.A. in 1905 was an etching of Ossett Market as it was in Victorian times. In London he lived in Chelsea, then Acton.[1] Also in 1905, he married Hilda Mary Pemberton (born 1871), the daughter of civil engineer Frederick Blake Pemberton and his wife Lucy.[1]

A Quaker,[1] vegetarian,[1] and pacifist,[1] he was a conscientious objector in World War I[3] and as such was imprisoned in 1917 for two years.[3]

In September 1922 he was commissioned by Princess Marie Louise to produce miniature etchings for Queen Mary's Dolls' House,[3] at Windsor Castle. In November 2012 some of the etchings were shown on the BBC programme 'Antiques Roadshow', by his brother's great-grandson and great-great-granddaughters.[1][3]

His late-1920s painted freeze, made of four panels, showing prehistoric England, can be seen in the Geological section of the Natural History Museum in South Kensington.[1] The museum also holds his oil paintings, "Scene in Wealden Times"[4] and two versions of "Nant Ffrancon Valley, North Wales".[5][6]

He and Hilda moved to a cottage in Blewbury, Berkshire (now in Oxfordshire).[1] Hilda died in 1957 and Wilson's pupil, Mary Cockburn, subsequently became his live-in companion.[1] He died at his home, 9 Faraday Road, Acton, London, in November 1965, and was cremated at Mortlake, London, on 19 November.[1]

Wilson was elected an Associate of the Royal Society of Painters, Etchers and Engravers (A.R.E.) in 1907,[7] and served as Chairman of the Ealing Art Group from 1935 to 1947.

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Eli Marsden Wilson - Ossett Artist". Retrieved 21 January 2013.
  2. ^ England & Wales, National Probate Calendar, 1966. "WILSON Eli Marsden of 9 Faraday Road London, W.3 died 13 November 1965 Administration London 7 January to Edward Wilson Clay company director. £3964."
  3. ^ a b c d "Scarborough Grand Spa Hall 1". Antiques Roadshow. Series 35. Episode 5. 4 November 2012. BBC. Retrieved 21 January 2013.
  4. ^ "Scene in Wealden Times". Natural History Museum. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 21 January 2013.
  5. ^ "Nant Ffrancon Valley, North Wales". Natural History Museum. Archived from the original on 2 August 2012. Retrieved 21 January 2013.
  6. ^ "Nant Ffrancon Valley, North Wales". Natural History Museum. Archived from the original on 2 August 2012. Retrieved 21 January 2013.
  7. ^ Hopkinson, Martin (1999). No day without a line. The History of the Royal Society of Painter-Printmakers, 1880–1999. Oxford: Ashmolean Museum

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