Oscar Wilson (artist) facts for kids

Oscar Wilson RMS ARBA (1867 – 13 July 1930) was an English painter and illustrator. He trained in both London and Belgium. He was known for his paintings, drawings, and even funny cartoons!

Oscar Wilson's Life Story

Oscar Wilson was born around 1867 in Hackney, London. Not much is known about his early years. He studied art at the South Kensington School of Art in London. Later, he went to the Antwerp Academy in Belgium. There, he learned from famous artists like Charles Verlat and Polydore Beaufaux.

It's not clear when Oscar Wilson went to Belgium or when he came back to England. His son, Walter, was born in Belgium around 1890. Walter's mother, Jeanne, was also born in Belgium. In 1911, census records showed that Oscar and Jeanne had been married for 25 years. This means they likely married around 1885. Jeanne would have been about 14 years old at that time.

Some reports say Wilson traveled to Africa. In 1910, he created an illustration for The Graphic magazine. This drawing showed a call to prayer in Cairo, Egypt.

In 1901, Wilson lived at 19 Colville Road in Notting Hill, London. He lived there with his wife and son. By 1911, they had moved to 47 Blenheim Crescent, also in Notting Hill. The census showed that Walter, then 21, worked as a "motor-car agent." This means he was a car salesman. Oscar Wilson continued to live at 47 Blenheim Crescent. He passed away at his home on 13 July 1930.

His Art and Illustrations

Painting by Wilson: A battled of wits: tourists, pickpockets, and police, St Mark's Square (1889)

Oscar Wilson was a talented painter, illustrator, and cartoonist. He was especially known for his "genre paintings." These are paintings that show scenes from everyday life. He also created beautiful watercolors and portraits. Many people said he was great at drawing pretty women.

Wilson also worked in commercial art. He made illustrations for railway companies. For example, he drew pictures for the Great Eastern Railway. These pictures encouraged people to visit seaside towns. He also illustrated guides for traveling to Europe by boat from Harwich. His drawings showed how luxurious the steamboat service was.

Art Exhibitions

Oscar Wilson showed his art in many places. He exhibited his works at:

• The Dudley Gallery
• The Glasgow Institute of the Fine Arts
• The Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool (22 works!)
• The Manchester City Art Gallery (8 works)
• The Royal Academy (3 works)
• The Royal Society of British Artists (13 works)
• The Royal Cambrian Academy (7 works)
• The Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours (2 works)
• The Royal Miniature Society (1 work)
• The Royal Institute of Oil Painters (25 works)
• The Royal Scottish Academy (3 works)

In 1891, Wilson showed a painting called The Flower Market, Antwerp in Manchester. Critics called it "remarkably clever." They said it was "full of life and character." The painting showed flower-girls and people from Antwerp.

In 1888, his painting L'Amateur d' Estampes was praised as a "good picture." In 1891, his La Modiste was called a "luminous little bit." His Antwerp scenes in 1892 were admired for their "excellent arrangement of colour."

Wilson also exhibited at the Leeds Municipal Art Gallery in 1890. He showed Mon Atelier, which was a sculptor's studio. It showed a fashionable lady looking at classical statues. Critics thought it was "admirable in tone."

In 1897, his work at the Black and White gallery was called "Brilliant" and "entirely modern." His piece Outside the Empire was praised for showing "the modern woman as he sees her."

Wilson was one of the first members of the Society of Painters in Miniature in 1896. This group was for professional artists. In 1926, he became an Associate of the Royal Society of British Artists.

Magazine Illustrations

Oscar Wilson drew for many important magazines and newspapers. Some of these included:

• Black and White
• Cassell's Family Magazine
• The English Illustrated Magazine
• The Gaiety
• The Gentlewoman
• The Graphic
• The Idler
• The Illustrated London News
• The Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News
• The Lady's Pictorial
• The Lady's Realm
• London Opinion
• Madame
• New Budget
• The Pall Mall Magazine
• Pearson's Magazine
• Pick-Me-Up
• The Sketch
• St Paul's Magazine
• Tatler
• The West End Review
• The Windsor Magazine

The editor of Pick-Me-Up even said Wilson was one of his five main artists. His magazine drawings were very popular. In 1913, Preston Corporation bought his work for their Art Gallery. They said he was "amongst the finest artists of the day."

Reviewers often praised Wilson's illustrations. They would pick out his work from many other artists in a magazine. For example:

• In 1894, a colored drawing by Oscar Wilson for St. Paul's was called an "exquisite study."
• In 1895, a "charming coloured plate" by him was featured in St Paul's.
• In 1896, his "dainty study, The Favourite" was highlighted.
• His "two dainty full page tinted pictures" were also mentioned in 1896.
• In 1898, his "clever drawing" for St. Paul's was noted.
• In 1899, his "double page picture . . . The Judgement of Paris is excellent."
• In 1906, Tatler praised his "two excellent pictures" of Venice and The Broken Pitcher.

Book Illustrations

Oscar Wilson illustrated many books. At first, he worked mostly for Ward Lock & Co. After 1905, he mainly illustrated books for the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge (SPCK). Here is a list of some of the books he illustrated:

Examples of Book Illustrations

Here are some illustrations Oscar Wilson created for the book Two Adventurers in Search for El Dorado (1915) by Harry Collingwood.

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  The huge leaf of the carnivorous plant suddenly curled up capturing his companion

• 

  Never before in his life had he seen such a creature

• 

  He saw enough to fully confirm his previous conviction

• 

  They present themselves at the guard gate