Thomas Ashburton Picken Explained

Thomas Ashburton Picken
Birth Date:	c. 1818
Birth Place:	Govan, Glasgow, Scotland
Death Date:	23 January 1891 (aged 72)
Death Place:	London Charterhouse, England
Resting Place:	Highgate Cemetery
Nationality:	British
Known For:	Lithographs: The destruction of both Houses of Parliament (1834); Funeral of the Duke of Wellington (1853) among many others
Style:	Lithography, Illustration, watercolor painting
Father:	Andrew Picken
Relatives:	Andrew Picken (brother)

Thomas Ashburton Picken (c. 1818 – 23 January 1891), known professionally as T. Picken, was a Scottish-born watercolourist, engraver and lithographer working in England between around 1834 and 1875. He worked for the printing firm Day and Haghe (later Day & Son) for many years, and first came to notice for his lithograph of The Destruction of Both Houses of Parliament when he was only about 16 years old. Although there is no evidence that he travelled abroad, he produced many lithographs of foreign parts after paintings by other artists. He specialised in detailed images of landscape, architecture, events of war, and ships. He produced lithographs of SS Great Eastern and the laying of the Atlantic cable, and he illustrated books.

Picken's father was the Scots novelist Andrew Picken, and his brother Andrew was a lithographer who also trained with Day and Haghe. Picken ended his days as a Poor Brother at The London Charterhouse, alongside his brother, James Canning (or Channing) Picken. His lithographs are now in many collections, including the Royal Collection Trust, the Library of Congress collection and the Royal Academy collection.

Arts background

Picken's father was Scots writer Andrew Picken (Paisley 1788 – London 23 November 1833),^{[1] [2]} who published various novels including Traditional stories of old families (1833).^{[3] [4]} Thomas' mother was Janet E. Coxon (or Coxson) (1793 – South Stoneham 1871).^[5] Andrew Picken senior's first book, Tales and Sketches of the West of Scotland (1824), about historical changes there, "gave great offence to the citizens of Glasgow" and this drove him out of the town. He died in London, where his family were "left in very precarious circumstances" when his son Thomas was around 15 years old.^[6] Thomas Picken was one of four sons, three of whom were lithographers. Two of his elder brothers were the lithographer Andrew (1815 – London 24 June 1845)^{[7] [8]} and lithographic artist (later wine merchant) James Canning (or Channing) (Dublin ca.1817 – Brentford 1899).^[9] He had two younger sisters: Sophia (b. Glasgow 14 December 1821),^[10] and Eleanor Emma (Glasgow ca.1822 – Portsea 21 July 1898) who, as a miniaturist portrait painter, exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1842.

Life

Thomas Ashburton Picken was born around 1818, in Govan, Glasgow. He never married. In 1841 he was living in Great Randolph Street, Kentish Town, London, with his mother Janet, his brother James, and his sisters Emma and Sophia, and describing himself as an artist.^[11] In 1851 the census finds him living at 13 Murray Street, Camden, with his brother James and his sister Sophia.^[12] By 1861 he was lodging at 27 Rutland Street, St Pancras, London, with the family of sculptor Thomas Woolner (1825–1892).^[13] In 1871 he was living as a lodger at 11 Rutland Street, describing himself as a lithographic artist.^[14]

Picken and his brother James Canning (or Channing) Picken were accepted as Poor Brothers or male pensioners at the Charterhouse, London. Thomas was described there as a former lithographer and James as a former wine merchant,^[15] and Thomas was registered in 1879.^{[7] [16]} On 23 January 1891 he died at the Charterhouse.^[17] He was buried on 24 January 1891 with his brother Andrew on the west side of Highgate Cemetery.^[18]

Career

Since Thomas Picken was working for Day and Haghe, later Day & Son, in 1834 at the age of around sixteen years, and served the company for the rest of his career, it is likely that he served his apprenticeship there, as did his brother Andrew.^[16] He was working as a watercolourist, engraver, lithographer and painter for that company in Camden, London from at least 1834, and flourished until at least 1875.^{[7] [19] [20]}

Probably one of Picken's earliest publications was his lithograph of The Destruction of Both Houses of Parliament, 1834, executed when he was only about 16 years old.^[12] No other original artist is credited for this work, so it is not impossible that the initial sketches were undertaken by Picken himself. The authorship of original works on which lithographs were based was usually credited, but such works are often unavailable. Therefore, the question arises as to the extent to which the mid-19th-century lithographers were responsible for the final composition and detail of their engravings. The Day and Haghe lithographer William Simpson said, "In lithography ... we [at times] had to work out rough materials into pictures ... if a man has any stuff in him it finds development."^[20]

No evidence of foreign travel has been found, but many of Picken's works after other artists represent locations around the world. He made detailed images of landscape, architecture, events of war, and ships. He illustrated books, and produced lithographs of SS Great Eastern,^[21] and the laying of the Atlantic cable.^[22]

Selected works

• Palace of Westminster: Destruction of both Houses of Parliament, as seen from the Surrey side (1834), by Thomas Ashburton Picken.^{[23] [24] [25]}
• Palace of Westminster: Destruction of both Houses of Parliament as seen from Abingdon Street on the Night of October 16th 1834 (1834), by Thomas Ashburton Picken.^[26]
• King's College Hospital. North or entrance front (ca.1842), after architect Thomas Bellamy (1798–1876).^[27]
• View of Quebec City, Canada (1845), after the artist and topographical engineer Benjamin Beaufoy (1814–1879).^[19]
• St Paul's Cathedral (1851), after artist George Sidney Shepherd (ca.1786–1862).^[28]
• Horse Guards Parade: General view (1851), after George Sidney Shepherd.^[29]
• Wellington Arch, Hyde Park Corner (1852), after Louis Haghe (1806–1885).^[30]
• The Great Eastern under weigh July 23rd (circa 1860).^[31]
• Native Village and Palaver House near Cavalla (1868) after George Townshend Fox (1810–1886).^[32]

Works published as sets

• Book: Picken . Thomas Ashburton . Ten Colour Lithographs by T. Picken After G. S. Shepherd in the Guildhall Library . 1851 . R. Ackerman 1851, Guildhall Library Publications 1987 . London . 9780900422249 . 8 February 2021 . Set of lithographs, 14 pages. ^[33]
• Book: Crofton . Mrs William . Eight views, for the benefit of the County Leitrim protestant orphan society from the original drawing . 1854 . Ackerman . 24 December 2020. The eight engravings were lithograph copies by Thomas Ashburton Picken of Frances Emilia Crofton's original paintings.^[34]
• Book: Walker . Edmund . A Series of Twelve Views of the Principal Buildings in London . 1852 . Lloyd Bros & Co. . London . 58–59 . 11 January 2021. . (This is a bound set of lithographs after Edmund Walker, rather than an illustrated book: Westminster Abbey; General Post Office; Greenwich Hospital; The Treasury Whitehall; The Quadrant Regent Street; St Paul's Cathedral, St Martin's Church; Trafalgar Square; Royal Exchange; Buckingham Palace; London Bridge; British Museum).^[35]

Book illustration

(In date order)

• Book: Allen . William . Picturesque views on the river Niger : sketched during Lander's last visit in 1832-33 . 1840 . J. Murray . London . 17 January 2021 . Printer of plates: Day and Haghe. Lithographers: Thomas Picken, William Walton, Charles Haghe. ^[36]
• Book: Roberts . David . The Holy Land Yesterday and Today: Lithographs and Diaries . 1842–1849 . Swan Hill Press. 978-1853108716 . Swan Hill Press reprint 1997. (Lithographs after David Roberts).^{[7] [16] [8]}
• Book: Picken . Thomas Ashburton . A view of Cheltenham in its past and present state . 1843 . Day and Haghe . London . 4 . 15 January 2021 . The illustrations to this work comprise, in addition to a coloured plan of the town, corrected to the present time - a series of six beautiful views, lithographed by T. Picken from drawings taken for the work, and printed in tint by Day and Haghe. (Also wood engravings by other artists). ^[37]
• Book: Richardson . Charles James . Studies Of Ornamental Design . 1851 . John Weale . London . 12 January 2021. (Thomas Picken is credited for some of the lithographs).
• Book: Pyne . James Baker . Views of the English Lake District . 1853 . Thos. Agnew & Son . London . 16 January 2021. ^[38] (At least one lithograph in this book is by Picken after Pyne. Pyne is sometimes listed as "Payne".)
• Book: Lawson . John Parker . Scotland Delineated. A series of views of the principal cities and towns, particularly of Edinburgh and its environs . 1 January 1858 . Originally Day & Son, and R. Griffin & Co. . London . 978-1241529420 . British Library Historical Print 2011. .(Lithographs after William Simpson, Sir William Allan, Clarkson Frederick Stanfield, George Cattermole, William Leighton Leitch, Thomas Creswick, David Roberts, James Duffield Harding, Joseph Nash, Horatio McCulloch, J. M. W. Turner, David Octavius Hill).^{[7] [16] [8]}
• Book: Pyne . James Baker . The Lake Scenery of England Drawn on Stone . 1858 . Originally Day & Son . London . 978-1287827184 . Nabu Press reprint 2013. (Lithographs after James Baker Pyne).^{[7] [16] [8]}
• Book: Newton . Sir Charles Thomas . Pullan . R.P. . A history of discoveries at Halicarnassus, Cnidus and Branchidae . 1862 . London . 12 January 2021. (Lithograph plate XI after B. Spackman).
• Book: Falkener . Edward . Ephesus, And The Temple Of Diana . 1862 . Day & Son . London . 12 January 2021. (Some of the illustrations are lithographed by Picken).
• Book: Hinchliff . Thomas Woodbine . South American sketches; or, A visit to Rio Janeiro, the Organ Mountains, La Plata, and the Parana . 1863 . Longman, Roberts & Green . London . 7 February 2021 . Six illustrations by T. Picken (lithographer).

Exhibitions

• Royal Academy of Arts (1857): One watercolour, The Castle Rock, Lynton, North Devon.^{[7] [39] [40]}
• Society of Artists of Great Britain (1846–75): ten watercolours.^[7]

Collections

Besides the list below, Picken's lithographs are in numerous collections, including: Museum of Science and Industry,^[41] Victoria and Albert Museum,^[42] Government Art Collection,^[43] Library of Congress Collection,^[44] Museum of London,^[45] National Army Museum,^[46] National Library of Poland,^[47] National Maritime Museum, London,^[48] National Railway Museum,^[49] People's Collection, Wales,^[50] Royal Academy collection,^[51] Royal Museums Greenwich,^[52] University of British Columbia,^[53] University of Edinburgh collection,^[54] Villanova University,^[55] Yale Center for British Art,^[56] and the British Museum.^[57]

• Royal Collection Trust: Five of the prints from the Eight Views set (1854), including Killarney, Dunbroody Abbey, Lough Rynn, Muckruss Abbey and Castle Otway after Frances Emilia Crofton,^[58] and Launch of the Trafalgar (1842) by T.A. Picken after William Ranwell.^[59]
• Guildhall Library print room, Wakefield Collection: St Paul's Cathedral (1851).^[60]
• London Metropolitan Archives and Guildhall Art Gallery: Palace of Westminster: Destruction of both Houses of Parliament, as seen from the Surrey side (1834),^[24] Palace of Westminster: Destruction of both Houses of Parliament as seen from Abingdon Street on the Night of 16th October 1834 (1834),^[26] Horse Guards Parade: General view (1851),^[29] Wellington Arch, Hyde Park Corner (1852),^[30]
• Wellcome Collection: King's College Hospital. North or entrance front (ca.1842), after Thomas Bellamy,^[27] People strolling along Old Well Walk, Cheltenham (1842) by T. Picken after W. Hughes.^[61]
• National Library of Wales, Welsh Landscape Collection: Various lithographs including Conwy Tubular Bridge (1849) after S. Crowther.^[62]

Reviews

• Messrs Ackerman of the Strand have just brought out a beautiful lithograph representation of the Launch of the Trafalgar drawn by Mr Ranwell and lithographed by Mr T. Picken. So far as our acquaintance with art goes, this is the first attempt that has been made to do full justice, by pictorial representation, to that soul-stirring scene to every Englishman - a ship launch. The artist could not have made a better selection of subject than the one he has chosen. The launch of the Trafalgar presented, perhaps, the most animating scene of joyousness that ever occurred in this country. More brilliant assemblages take place at Coronations and other great state ceremonies; but the glitter of a pageant has always a certain coldness associated with its formalities. Here, however, was a kind of undress scene of royalty - a monarch brought into immediate contact with her people, and sharing with them in feelings which form their mutual security. Those who were present can never forget the scene - a scene from which, with its multitudinous objects, we should have considered beyond the reach of pictorial art, if we had not seen Mr Ranwell's admirable delineation of the subject. The moment which the artist has perpetuated in the beautiful lithograph before us, is that in which the noble vessel descended majestically into the water, amid the heartwarming huzzas of countless thousands. The situation of the spectator is on the river below the slip - a line of yachts, barges and other craft, with their crowded docks forming the immediate foreground. The figures are admirably disposed and brought up with all the sharpness of a line engraving. - Intermediately is a patch of water with a few light row-boats, and then a line of steamers with their thronged and brilliant assemblages. Next, occupying the centre of the picture, is the noble vessel herself, just settling into the water, a sufficient space being left between her bow and entrance of the dock to discover the Royal party. To describe the various accessory aids which the artist has judiciously drawn into his subject would occupy a page; whilst we only have space left to observe generally that this splendid specimen of lithography is a perfect novelty in art. We had no conception so large a drawing crowded with thousands of figures could be attempted by this process with any chance of success - whilst in distinctness of outline, in sharpness and clearness of body, in delicacy of lights and in fulness of tone his magnificent picture has, as we previously observed, all the power of a line engraving; and as a specimen of lithography stands without a rival. ("Launch of the Trafalgar", Kentish Mercury, 12 March 1842).^[63]

• Bath from Sham Castle drawn on stone by T. Picken, from a painting by J. Syer. A very beautiful lithograph engraving of the city of Bath has recently been published by Mr Everitt, of the Repository of Arts in that town. The view is taken from Sham Castle, and the town appears unfolded as a map, all the streets and principal buildings being represented with the strictest regard to topographical accuracy. The surrounding country is also seen for many miles, and independently of the value of the engraving in an historical point of view, and as a work of reference, it is commendable for its general fidelity to nature and artistic treatment. ("Bath from Sham Castle", Morning Post, 28 September 1850).^[64]

Further research

• Book: Engen . Rodney K. . Somerset . H. . Dictionary of Victorian engravers, print publishers and their works . 1 July 1979 . Somerset House . London . 978-0914146865.

Notes and References

1. Web site: Traditional stories of old families and legendary illustrations of family history . catalog.hathitrust.org/ . Haithi Trust . 2 January 2021.
2. Book: Trevor Royle. Macmillan Companion to Scottish Literature. https://books.google.com/books?id=SDJdDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA236. 1984. Macmillan International Higher Education. 978-1-349-07587-4. 236. Picken, Andrew.
3. Book: Picken . Andrew . Traditional Stories of Old Families and Legendary Illustrations of Family History . 1833 . Longman . London . 2 January 2021.
4. Web site: Significant Scots: Andrew Picken . electricscotland.com . Electric Scotland . 2 January 2021.
5. Deaths Sep 1871 Picken Janet Coxon 79 S. Stoneham 2c 37
6. News: Died: Mr Andrew Picken . 15 January 2021 . Belfast News-Letter . British Newspaper Archive . subscription . 3 December 1833 . 3 col.1.
7. Web site: Schools Erected by Messrs John Bagnall & Sons at Golds Hill, West Bromwich, in Connexion with their Collieries and Iron Works . artcollection.culture.gov.uk . Government Art Collection . 11 January 2021 . 2020.
8. O'Donoghue . F.M. . Oxford Dictionary of National Biography: Andrew Picken (1815-1845) . 23 September 2004 . Oxford . 10.1093/ref:odnb/22199 . subscription. 2 January 2021.
9. Deaths Mar 1899 Picken James 83 Brentford 3a 90
10. Scotland births and baptisms 1564–1950 FHL film no. 0102918, 0994179, 1042938, 0102917
11. Web site: 1841 England Census Marylebone St Pancras, p.15, schedule 11. HO107/683/1 . subscription. ancestry.co.uk . H. M. Government . 15 January 2021.
12. Web site: 1851 England Census for Camden St Pancras, p.46, schedule 108, HO107/1498 . subscription . ancestry.co.uk . H. M. Government . 15 January 2021. Thomas Picken age 33 lithographic artist born Scotland.
13. Web site: 1861 England Census Marylebone Pancras, p.55, schedule 133, RG9/95 . subscription . 15 January 2021. Thomas Picken 42 lithographic artist born Scotland.
14. Web site: 1871 England Census Marylebone Pancras, p.54, RG10/201 . subscription . ancestry.co.uk . H. M. Government . 15 January 2021. Thomas Picken 53 lithographic artist born Scotland.
15. Web site: 1881 England Census, The London Charterhouse, St Sepulchre Without, London, p.6 RG11/344 . subscription . ancestry.co.uk . H. M. Government . 15 January 2021. Thomas Ashburton Picken 63 former lithographic artist born Scotland.
16. Picken, Andrew (1815-1845) . 45 . O'Donoghue . Freeman Marius . 240 . 1.
17. Deaths Mar 1891 Picken Thomas Ashburton 72 Holborn 1b 532
18. Web site: Burial register summary, Picken Thomas Ashburton . deceasedonline.com . Deceased Online . 3 January 2021 . 2021.
19. Web site: 1845 Beaufoy / Picken View of Quebec City, Canada . geographicus.com . Geographicus . 3 January 2021 . 2021.
20. Web site: Tidman . Kathy Kajander . Art for the Victorian household . atlantic-cable.com . Online Originals . 17 January 2021.
21. Web site: The Great Eastern under weigh July 23rd . collections.rmg.co.uk/ . Royal Museums Greenwich . 18 January 2021.
22. Web site: The Cliffs Foilhummerum Bay, Point of the Landing of the Shore End of Cable . artcollection.culture.gov.uk . Government Art Collection . 18 January 2021.
23. Web site: Object: The Destruction of both Houses of Parliament, as seen from the Surry-side, on the Night of the 16th Octr 1834 . britishmuseum.org . British Museum . 18 January 2021 . Production date 1834.
24. Web site: Palace of Westminster: Destruction of both Houses of Parliament, as seen from the Surrey side . londonpicturearchive.org.uk . London Picture Archive . 3 January 2021.
25. Book: Imms . Matthew . J.M.W. Turner: Sketchbooks, Drawings and Watercolours . tate.org.uk . Tate . 18 January 2021 . May 2014. 9781849763868 .
26. Web site: Palace of Westminster: Destruction of both Houses of Parliament as seen from Abingdon Street on the Night of 16th Oct 1834 . londonpicturearchive.org.uk . London Picture Archive . 3 January 2021.
27. Web site: King's College Hospital, Camberwell, London: entrance. Coloured lithograph by T. Picken. . wellcomecollection.org . Wellcome Collection . 4 January 2021.
28. Web site: Picken . Thomas Ashburton . Shepherd . George Sidney . St Paul's Cathedral . gettyimages.co.uk . Getty Images . 3 January 2021.
29. Web site: Shepherd . George Sidney . Picken . Thomas Ashburton . Horse Guards Parade: General view . londonpicturearchive.org.uk . London Picture Archive . 3 January 2021.
30. Web site: Wellington Arch, Hyde Park Corner . londonpicturearchive.org.uk . London Picture Archive . 3 January 2021.
31. Web site: The Great Eastern under weigh July 23rd . collections.rmg.co.uk/ . Royal Museums Greenwich . 14 January 2021.
32. Book: Fox . George Townshend . A memoir of the Rev. C. Colden Hoffman, missionary to Cape Palmas, West Africa . 1868 . ADF Randolph . New York and London . 222 . 14 January 2021.
33. Book: London : R. Ackermann's series 1851 : ten coloured lithographs . worldcat.org . Worldcat . 24637269 . 8 February 2021. (A portfolio of 10 prints. This link names all ten prints.)
34. Web site: Eight Views, for the Benefit of the County Leitrim Protestant Orphan Society. From the Original Drawings by Mrs. William Crofton . bonhams.com . Bonhams . 27 December 2020 . 27 November 2012.
35. Web site: 19th Century European, Victorian and British Impressionist Art . bonhams.com . Bonhams . 11 January 2021 . London . 26 September 2019.
36. Web site: Picturesque views on the river Niger : sketched during Lander's last visit in 1832-33 . biodiversitylibrary.org/ . Biodiversity Heritage Library . 17 January 2021.
37. News: New Works . subscription . 15 January 2021 . Cheltenham Looker-On . British Newspaper Archive . 5 August 1843 . 15.
38. Web site: Thomas Picken, lot number.412 . lotsearch.net . Lot Search . 16 January 2021.
39. Book: Royal Academy Chronicle exhibition catalogue . 1857 . Royal Academy . London . 31 . 11 January 2021 . Drawings, miniatures and engravings.
40. Book: The Royal Academy of Arts; a complete dictionary of contributors and their work from its foundation in 1769 to 1904 . 1904 . Royal Academy via Internet Archive . London . 19 January 2021.
41. Web site: Chester and Holyhead Railway . collection.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk/ . Science Museum Group . 12 January 2021.
42. Web site: The Britannia Tubular Railway Bridge, Menai Straits, North Wales . collections.vam.ac.uk . V & A . 12 January 2021.
43. Web site: Foilhummerum Bay. Valencia, looking Seawards from the Point at which the Cable Reaches the Shore . artcollection.culture.gov.uk/ . Government Art Collection . 12 January 2021.
44. Web site: Highland Brigade camp, looking south . loc.gov . Library of Congress Collection . 12 January 2021.
45. News: A history of Ceremonial and State funerals from the Museum of London archives . subscription . 12 January 2021 . The Telegraph . 18 April 2013.
46. Web site: 'Funeral of the Duke of Wellington. The funeral car passing the archway at Apsley House', 18 November 1852 . collection.nam.ac.uk/ . National Army Museum . 12 January 2021.
47. Web site: Opactwo Westminster w Londynie . polona.pl/ . Polona . 12 January 2021.
48. Web site: H.M. Auxilliary [sic] screw-propeller steam frigate Arrogant, 46 guns, 360 horsepower . collections.rmg.co.uk/ . Royal Museums Greenwich . 12 January 2021.
49. Web site: Bangor . webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ . The National Archives . 12 January 2021.
50. Web site: Pembroke Castle, South Wales . peoplescollection.wales . People's Collection Wales . 12 January 2021.
51. Web site: Thomas Picken . royalacademy.org.uk . Royal Academy . 12 January 2021.
52. Web site: Attack and capture of the Forts at the Entrance of the River Pei-ho . collections.rmg.co.uk/ . Royal Museums Greenwich . 12 January 2021.
53. Web site: UBC Library digitization, View of Victoria, Vancouver Island . flickr.com . 11 February 2014 . Flickr . 12 January 2021.
54. Web site: Walter Scott image collection, Glamis Castle Forfarshire . images.is.ed.ac.uk/ . University of Edinburgh . 12 January 2021.
55. Web site: Ruins of Muckruss Abbey Killarney . digital.library.villanova.edu/ . Villanova University, Falvey Memorial Library . 12 January 2021.
56. Web site: Thomas Picken, Greenwich Hospital . collections.britishart.yale.edu . Yale Center for British Art . 16 January 2021.
57. Web site: View with the plane "Ariel" flying in the foreground, over the Nile, pyramids in the left background, the sun on the right horizon . britishmuseum.org/ . British Museum . 12 January 2021.
58. Web site: After Crofton, Mrs William (fl.1854) RCIN 702735 . rct.uk . Royal Collection Trust . 30 December 2020.
59. Web site: Launch of the Trafalgar . rct.uk . Royal Collection Trust . 15 January 2021.
60. Guildhall Library W.460/PAU(2)ext Picture Type-Catalogue Noq8037439
61. Web site: People strolling along Old Well Walk, Cheltenham. Lithograph by T. Picken, 1842, after W. Hughes . wellcomelibrary.org . Wellcome Library . 6 January 2021.
62. Web site: Conway Tubular Bridge . viewer.library.wales . National Library of Wales . 12 January 2021.
63. News: Launch of the Trafalgar . 15 January 2021 . Kentish Mercury . 12 March 1842 . British Newspaper Archive . subscription . 4 col.3.
64. News: Bath from Sham Castle . subscription . 17 January 2021 . Morning Post . British Newspaper Archive . 28 September 1850 . 3 col.6.