Arthur A. Dixon

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Arthur Augustus Dixon (8 May 1872 1959) was an English artist and illustrator who produced illustrations for authors such as Angela Brazil, Elsie J. Oxenham and Bessie Marchant.[1]

Life[edit]

Arthur was born and raised in St Pancras, London by his father, Richard Dixon, a grainer, and his mother Rosa. In 1887 his father passed away and Rosa moved with Arthur and his two brothers, Frederick and Herbert to Islington.[1]

In 1899, Arthur married Cecil Elsie Soweby in Steyning and together they had one daughter born a year later.[1] The two settled in Berkhamsted until Arthur Dixon passed away in 1959.[1][2]

Work[edit]

Arthur was a prolific illustrator in his time and made illustrations for reprints of around thirty-five classic works by Charles Dickens, Alfred, Lord Tennyson, Charles Kingsley, Victor Hugo, Elizabeth Gaskell and Washington Irving .[3][1][2] The style he employs has been termed 'neo-Pre-Raphaelite' which was indicative of his peers such as Byam Shaw or Eleanor Fortescue-Brickdale.[2]

He also exhibited paintings and drawings at such venues as Royal Academy of Arts, Royal Society of British Artists, as well as the New Gallery.[2]

List of Books illustrated by Arthur A. Dixon[edit]

  • Stories from the Bible Illustrated by Arthur Dixon (London: Blackie & Son, 1914)
  • Scripture Stories For Children Illustrated by Arthur Dixon (London: Blackie & Son, 1915)
  • Hard Cash By Charles Reade
  • The Poetical Works of Mathew Arnold
  • The Manor House School by Angela Brazil
  • Children's Stories From Russian Fairy Tales (Raphael Tuck & Sons)
  • The Precious Gift by Theodora Wilson Wilson
  • A Princess's Token by E. Everett-Green

List of Paintings by Arthur A. Dixon[edit]

Source:[4]

  • Offerings (1902) [44 x 60 inches]
  • Thomas More with his Daughters Entertaining Cardinal Wolsey [27.8 x 19.9 inches]
  • Garden scene with a seated figure reading a book to the foreground, a woman and a young boy looking down a well and children dancing beyond, (1913) [47.6 x 31.9 inches]
  • David Copperfield
  • The Victor (1915)
  • The Queen of Clubs (1902)
  • Portrait of Lina Susan Penelope Norman

Legacy[edit]

One of his illustrations was sold at Christie's for £7,170 in 2003.[5]

Dixon was characterised by the Dictionary of British Book Illustrators as 'generally competent' and 'conventional and prosaic with sentimental overtones'.[1][6]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f Archivist (2011-06-22). "Arthur A. Dixon: Artist". Historical articles and illustrations. Retrieved 2024-03-29.
  2. ^ a b c d "Offerings | Bagshawe Fine Art". www.bagshawes.com. Retrieved 2024-03-29.
  3. ^ "The Poetical Works of Alfred, Lord Tennyson".
  4. ^ "Arthur A Dixon". www.artnet.com. Retrieved 2024-04-01.
  5. ^ "The Queen of Clubs". Christie's. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
  6. ^ Peppin, Brigid; Micklethwait, Lucy (1983). Dictionary of British Book Illustrators: The Twentieth Century. London: Murray. pp. 85–6.