Robert Anning Bell - Biography and Works
Robert Anning Bell (1863-1933) was born in London to a wealthy trader with cheese. He learned art for two years as an apprentice to his uncle who was an architect, then at the University College School, the Westminster School of Art, and the Royal Academy Schools. He spent about one year in Paris at Academie Julian and at the studio of the painter Aime Morot before finishing his studies at the Royal Academy. Three years later he traveled to Italy where he was strongly influenced by Renaissance painters, especially Giovanni Bellini.
Robert Anning Bell (1863-1933) was born in London to a wealthy trader with cheese. He learned art for two years as an apprentice to his uncle who was an architect, then at the University College School, the Westminster School of Art, and the Royal Academy Schools. He spent about one year in Paris at Academie Julian and at the studio of the painter Aime Morot before finishing his studies at the Royal Academy. Three years later he traveled to Italy where he was strongly influenced by Renaissance painters, especially Giovanni Bellini.
(Self Portrait)
After their return, he worked with a sculptor George James Frampton. Together they designed an altarpiece for the Church of St Claire in Liverpool. He became an instructor of architecture at Liverpool University where he worked between 1894 and 1899. Robert Anning Bell later became professor of design at the Glasgow School of Art and in 1918 professor of design at the Royal College of Art in London.
After their return, he worked with a sculptor George James Frampton. Together they designed an altarpiece for the Church of St Claire in Liverpool. He became an instructor of architecture at Liverpool University where he worked between 1894 and 1899. Robert Anning Bell later became professor of design at the Glasgow School of Art and in 1918 professor of design at the Royal College of Art in London.
(Confrontation, watercolors)
At the end of the 19th century, he started illustrating and designing books. The Banbury Cross series is presented on this website.
At the end of the 19th century, he started illustrating and designing books. The Banbury Cross series is presented on this website.
(Sales poster for The Banbury Cross Series)
The book Midsummer Night’s Dream, published by Dent in 1895 established him as an illustrator in demand. George Bell and Sons commissioned him for Poems by John Keats (1897), English Lyrics from Spenser to Milton (1898), and Poems by Percy Bysshe Shelley (1902), all published in the Endymion Poets series. We also need to mention at least his work in 1901 for Freemantle where he illustrated The Tempest by Shakespeare and Dent where he made pictures for Fairy Tales by Brothers Grimm. After that, he illustrated just a few books. Instead of that, he focused on his paintings and decorative art. He painted in oils, watercolors, and tempera.
The book Midsummer Night’s Dream, published by Dent in 1895 established him as an illustrator in demand. George Bell and Sons commissioned him for Poems by John Keats (1897), English Lyrics from Spenser to Milton (1898), and Poems by Percy Bysshe Shelley (1902), all published in the Endymion Poets series. We also need to mention at least his work in 1901 for Freemantle where he illustrated The Tempest by Shakespeare and Dent where he made pictures for Fairy Tales by Brothers Grimm. After that, he illustrated just a few books. Instead of that, he focused on his paintings and decorative art. He painted in oils, watercolors, and tempera.
(Mermaid and Sea, oil on canvas)
(Mermaid's Song (from Midsummer's Dream), oil on canvas)
(A Mermaid, relief)
He also designed reliefs, mosaics, and stained glass as well. We can see his mosaics in the House of Parliament, Westminster Cathedral, and Manchester Reference Library. Examples of his stained glass art are windows in St Matthew's Church, Paisley, St James Church, Warter, and in St Michael's Church, Amberley. In 1922, his book titled A Lecture on Stained Glass was published.
He also designed reliefs, mosaics, and stained glass as well. We can see his mosaics in the House of Parliament, Westminster Cathedral, and Manchester Reference Library. Examples of his stained glass art are windows in St Matthew's Church, Paisley, St James Church, Warter, and in St Michael's Church, Amberley. In 1922, his book titled A Lecture on Stained Glass was published.
(Nativity, oil on canvas)
credit: The Story of Christmas
He also succeeded as a designer of bookplates (ex-libris), partly influenced by Aubrey Beardsley, who, in return, was influenced by Anning Bell. His bookplates are miniature masterpieces on their own, done in Arts and Crafts style with many characteristics of the Aesthetics movement.
credit: The Story of Christmas
He also succeeded as a designer of bookplates (ex-libris), partly influenced by Aubrey Beardsley, who, in return, was influenced by Anning Bell. His bookplates are miniature masterpieces on their own, done in Arts and Crafts style with many characteristics of the Aesthetics movement.
(ex-libris for Mander Brothers)
(Palace of Sleeping Beauty, oil on canvas)
(Sleep on and Dream of Heaven Awhile, oil on canvas)
Just like many of his contemporaries, he used the motif of Sleeping Beauty several times throughout his career.
Just like many of his contemporaries, he used the motif of Sleeping Beauty several times throughout his career.
(Mother and Children, relief)
(Perseus and Andromeda, oil on canvas)
While Anning Bell excelled in black and white drawings you can notice he didn't escape the fashionable usage of red color among Art and Craft artists, which is almost a must, especially for red hair.
R. Anning Bell was married twice. His first wife was Amy Caroline Ditcham about whom we don't know much. His second wife Laura was a portraitist who mostly worked with pastels. Robert Anning Bell died without children. His death was caused by complications following asthma and pneumonia. His ashes are in St. James' Church in Picadilly.
While Anning Bell excelled in black and white drawings you can notice he didn't escape the fashionable usage of red color among Art and Craft artists, which is almost a must, especially for red hair.
R. Anning Bell was married twice. His first wife was Amy Caroline Ditcham about whom we don't know much. His second wife Laura was a portraitist who mostly worked with pastels. Robert Anning Bell died without children. His death was caused by complications following asthma and pneumonia. His ashes are in St. James' Church in Picadilly.
