Paintings by Arthur Gilbert

Paintings by Arthur Gilbert

Arthur Williams, called Gilbert, was born in 1819 in the Stoke Newington parish of London, as the fourth son of English landscape painter Edward "Old" Williams. He had five brothers, all of whom became landscape painters also, and though born Williams, he changed his surname to Gilbert to disitinguish his art from that of the rest of his family.

He married Elizabeth Jane Williams, and they had one daughter, Kate Williams. Arthur from all accounts was a man with a gentle disposition, and a most devoted husband and father. He lost Elizabeth in 1848, due to tuberculosis, and was left with their daughter Kate, who had been born five years prior. He then married Sarah Godfrey, and their son Horace was born the following year. Both of his children displayed artistic talent, and both of them painted and exhibited.

Gilbert was known especially for painting moonlight and night views of both river scenes along the Thames, and stark mountain landscapes. Both of which he exhibited frequently in London. But on rare occasions he painted subjects other than rural landscapes, such as buildings and town views. He also painted on commission two large pictures of Saint John the Baptist for the Ataliers catholiques, which was the private publishing house of the french priest Jacques-Paul Migne (1800-1875). These paintings today make up two panels of the triptych in the choir of the gothic church of the sea-side village of Audresselles in Pas-de-Calais, France. These religious paintings are unique among the works of the Williams family.

He died on April 21, 1895 in Croydon, Surrey. Wikipedia Article

signature from one of Athur Gilbert's paintings

Arthur Gilbert displayed his work from 1838 to 1894 (202 paintings) at all the major exhibitions of his day, including the Royal Academy (49 paintings), the Suffolk Street Gallery of the Royal Association of British Artists (102 paintings), and the British Institution (51 paintings).

Today, examples of his work can be seen in several British museums and galleries, most of which are on the Art UK website. There is also the triptych in Audreselles, France (right).

Glasgow Museums Resource Centre (two paintings)
Guernsey Museum and Art Gallery
National Library of Wales (Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru)
National Maritime Museum
National Trust, Gunby Hall
Reading Museum and Town Hall (two paintings)
Universtiy of Exeter

Paintings by Arthur Gilbert A labeled photo from a family album of Arthur Gilbert. Arthur Williams, called Gilbert, was born in 1819 in the Stoke Newington parish of London, as the fourth son of English landscape painter Edward "Old" Williams. He had five brothers, all of whom became landscape painters also, and though born Williams, he changed his surname to Gilbert to disitinguish his art from that of the rest of his family. He married Elizabeth Jane Williams, and they had one daughter, Kate Williams. Arthur from all accounts was a man with a gentle disposition, and a most devoted husband and father. He lost Elizabeth in 1848, due to tuberculosis, and was left with their daughter Kate, who had been born five years prior. He then married Sarah Godfrey, and their son Horace was born the following year. Both of his children displayed artistic talent, and both of them painted and exhibited. Gilbert was known especially for painting moonlight and night views of both river scenes along the Thames, and stark mountain landscapes. Both of which he exhibited frequently in London. But on rare occasions he painted subjects other than rural landscapes, such as buildings and town views. He also painted on commission two large pictures of Saint John the Baptist for the Ataliers catholiques, which was the private publishing house of the french priest Jacques-Paul Migne (1800-1875). These paintings today make up two panels of the triptych in the choir of the gothic church of the sea-side village of Audresselles in Pas-de-Calais, France. These religious paintings are unique among the works of the Williams family. He died on April 21, 1895 in Croydon, Surrey. Wikipedia Article . signature from one of Athur Gilbert's paintings Arthur Gilbert displayed his work from 1838 to 1894 (202 paintings) at all the major exhibitions of his day, including the Royal Academy (49 paintings), the Suffolk Street Gallery of the Royal Association of British Artists (102 paintings), and the British Institution (51 paintings). Today, examples of his work can be seen in several British museums and galleries, most of which are on the Art UK website. There is also the triptych in Audreselles, France (right). Glasgow Museums Resource Centre (two paintings) Guernsey Museum and Art Gallery National Library of Wales (Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru) National Maritime Museum National Trust, Gunby Hall Reading Museum and Town Hall (two paintings) Universtiy of Exeter
	Arthur Gilbert A Peaceful Loch (Left) Cader Idris from the River Mawr - Night (Right) Arthur Gilbert was known for landscape scenes in dimly lit settings, either moonlight or early morning dawn. Although these were very popular with the public, and contributed to his success, art critics bemoaned his use of moonlight scenes. These are two very typical Arthur Gilbert paintings, with moonlight illuminating a stark mountain landscapes. Note the woman with her dog on a lake shore, in the right-hand painting.
	Arthur Gilbert Highland Scene with a Deer by a Loch (Left) Cattle in a Highlands Landscape (Right) Arthur Gilbert used animals, people and trees very sparingly in his landscapes, which made some of his paintings seem stark and barren. Here on the left, he uses a solitary stag to good effect, with the animal surveying a lake, and a peak in the background lit by the early morning Alpine glow. A similar painting, but with cows instead of an elk, is shown on the right. By contrast, some of the landscapes with cows and gypsies that his brother Sidney Richard Percy like to paint seem almost seem cluttered.
	Arthur Gilbert 1848 - On the Thames (Left) undated - River Landscape with Stormy Sky and Figures (Right) - Gunby Hall (National Trust) Gilbert was also known for river landscapes of peaceful views along the Thames, with fishermen in skiffs drifting among the river grasses. These scenes were common in Surrey, which was on the south bank of the Thames opposite the hubbub of London on the north bank. These early examples show an otherwise blue sky, but one in which gathering storm clouds block the sun to create a soft lighting.
	Arthur Gilbert - 1859 - Sunshine on the Heath Although Gilbert generally painted his river landscapes with either darkening or gray skies, this landscape is set against a bright blue sky that is in contrast to the examples above.
	Arthur Gilbert - c.1872-1874 - Gilter's Point, Tenby, by Moonlight - National Maritime Museum An ocean scene, but done in the classic Arthur Gilbert style of a stark, dimly lit setting. Two solitary figures, prominant in the center of the scene, help to balance out the symmetry of the landscape, whereas in many of his earlier moonlight scenes any trees and figures are almost hidden in the landscape and add little to it.
	Arthur Gilbert 1879 - River Scene by Moonlight (Left) - Reading Museum and Town Hall 1879 - River Scene by Moonlight (Right) - Reading Museum and Town Hall Two moonlight scenes on the Thames River, probably painted at the same time, and possibly as a pair. Gilbert painted many scenes like these when he lived in Redhill and Croydon, in Surrey near the south bank of the Thames.
	Arthur Gilbert 1880 - Moulin Huet Bay, Guernsey (Left) - Guernsey Museum & Art Gallery undated - Near Lydstop, Tenby Coast (Right) These two ocean scenes both dispaly a country road overlooking a bay. As with most of his paintings, Gilbert uses graying skies and soft green tones with soft lighting, rather than bright hues beneath a blue sky.
	Arthur Gilbert c.1880 - Llanngolen National Library of Wales (Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru) Castle Ruin Both of these are very atypical paintings for a member of the Williams family. The one on the left is the only Williams family painting we have come across with a view of a town. The castle ruins on the right were probably painted early in Gilbert's career, when he was experimenting with different styles. Fortunately, this painting is signed, otherwise it would have been difficult to assign to any of the Williams brothers.
	Arthur Gilbert 1882 - Fishing on a Summer Afternoon (Left) undated - Maidenhead on the Thames (Right) Two fishing scenes on the Thames painted late in Gilbert's career. Both are similar in style, and the reflections of the trees in the still waters is a devise lacking in many of his earlier riverscapes.
	Arthur Gilbert - 1893 - Loch Etive Another stark mountain scene that represents the classic Arthur Gilbert painting, this time illuminated by the early morning dawn, instead of by moonlight. This one was painted just two years before his death.