Herbert William Weekes Explained

Herbert William Weekes
Birth Name:Herbert William Weekes
Birth Date:8 May 1841[1]
Birth Place:Pimlico, London, England
Death Date:21 November 1914[2]
Death Place:Primrose Hill, London, England
Nationality:English
Known For:genre and animal painting
Movement:Victorian Neoclassical

Herbert William Weekes (8 May 1841 – 21 November 1914) was a well-known English genre and animal painter of the Victorian Neoclassical period who specialized in portraying animals in humorous, human-like situations.

Early life and family

Weekes was born in Pimlico, London, England[3] to a prominent artistic family: the youngest of five children,[4] [5] his father, Henry Weekes, Sr. (1807–1877), was a sculptor and Royal Academician;[6] his brother, Henry, Jr. (fl. 1850–1884), was also a genre painter known for his animal studies;[4] [7] and his brother, Frederick (1833–1920), was an artist and expert on medieval costume and design.[8]

Later life and career

Weekes appears to have used his middle name, William, for all but formal purposes. He lived and worked for most of his life in London, at 21 Oppidans Road, Primrose Hill.[7] In 1865, he married artist Caroline Anne Henshaw (born ca. 1844), of Hammersmith.[3] [9] [10]

Known as an animal and genre painter of the Victorian Neoclassical style, Weekes' work was popular, and helped expand 19th century animal painting from its traditional role of simply recording beasts into a way of reflecting human life.[11] [12] He frequently personified animals and placed them in situations particular to humans. His work shows a sensitive understanding of his subject matter, and part of his success in capturing the peaceful country atmosphere depicted in so many of his paintings lay in his affection for it.[13] He was greatly influenced by one of the foremost animal painters of the nineteenth century, Sir Edwin Henry Landseer.[14]

Weekes contributed illustrations for The Illustrated London News in 1883, and exhibited extensively in various London and provincial galleries. His works were well received - although not by everyone: a contemporary wit described his paintings as “Weekes' Weak Squeaks”.[5]

His works were alternatively signed with the initials 'WW' (sometimes overlaid), 'W. Weekes', 'William Weekes', 'Herbert William Weekes', 'H.W. Weekes', 'H. Weekes', and simply 'Weekes'. They were exhibited in a variety of venues from 1864 to 1904, with frequencies as follows:[5]

Weekes died on 21 November 1914 and was buried on 28 November in Hampstead Cemetery (West Hampstead) - the grave is in Section C11 Grave 145, the service was performed by the Vicar of St Luke's Church Hampstead.

Works

This is an inexhaustive list of Weekes' paintings, primarily done in oil on canvas:

External links

Notes and References

  1. London, England, Births and Baptisms, 1813-1906
  2. News: Deaths. . 1 . 27 November 1914 .
  3. Web site: IGI Individual Record: Herbert Weekes . FamilySearch.org . 14 Oct 1865 . 29 Jan 2009 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110607165720/http://www.familysearch.org/eng/search/Census/household_record.asp?HOUSEHOLD_CODE=1881BR_186448&HOUSEHOLD_SUB=1&frompage=99 . 2011-06-07 .
  4. Web site: The Little Calf, Henry Weekes, Jnr., fl: 1850–1884. J. Collins & Son Fine Art. 28 Jan 2009. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120218133610/http://www.collinsantiques.co.uk/index.php?viewitem=341. 2012-02-18.
  5. Web site: Quiet!, Herbert William Weekes fl: 1864–1904 . J. Collins & Son Fine Art . 2008-03-18 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070210124615/http://www.collinsantiques.co.uk/index.php?viewitem=319 . 2007-02-10 . dead .
  6. Web site: Weekes, Henry (English sculptor and teacher, 1807–1877) . Getty Museum. 2008-03-17.
  7. Web site: Artist Biography: William Weekes fl. 1864–1904 . Burlington Paintings . 2009-01-29.
  8. Web site: Autumn Exhibition: Frederick Weekes (1833–1920) . Michael Sim . 2008-03-18.
  9. Web site: FamilySearch International Genealogical Index . FamilySearch.org . 1881 . 29 Jan 2009.
  10. "England and Wales Census, 1871", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VB68-RKR : 24 July 2015), Caroline Weekes in entry for William Weeks, 1871.
  11. Web site: Herbert William Weekes Biography . Haynes Fine Art of Broadway . 28 Jan 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080216063958/http://www.haynesfineart.com/artists/william-weekes.htm . 2008-02-16.
  12. Web site: Herbert William Weekes . Artnet . 28 Jan 2009.
  13. Web site: Suspicion. Cinoa. 13 Jul 2009. https://archive.today/20130414132520/http://www.cinoa.org/exhibits/55323. 14 April 2013. dead.
  14. Web site: Two of His Flock . Invaluable.com . 29 Jan 2009.

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