Abraham Wivell
Encyclopedia
Abraham Wivell was a British portrait painter, writer and pioneer of fire protection, credited with inventing the first effective fire escape
system.
After working as a hairdresser, Wivell established himself as a society portrait painter. Wivell became a leading advocate of fire safety measures, while continuing his career as an artist.
Born in Marylebone, London, Wivell did not begin his career as an artist. In 1799 he was apprenticed to a wigmaker, which at the time was part of normal hairdressing. He later set up his own hairdressing salon.
Initially an amateur artist, he advertised his skills by showing portrait miniature
s he had painted in his hairdressing shop window. By this means he gained commissions for portrait drawings and paintings. A drawing he created of Caroline of Brunswick
, wife of King George IV
, appealed to the queen herself, who gave Wivell a personal sitting. His link to the queen soon helped him achive fame as an artist. When she was put of trial for adultery in the House of Lords, Wivell was allowed to illustrate the sensational case. The popular feeling in favour of Caroline led to good sales. Wivell later depicted other figures in the news, including Arthur Thistlewood
, a leader of the Cato Street conspiracy
.
Wivell subsequently became an established society portraitist, painting royalty and aristocracy. He also painted nearly 200 portraits of MPs for a view depicting the House of Commons in session, which was published as a print.
In 1827 Wivell wrote An inquiry into the history, authenticity, & characteristics of the Shakspeare portraits, a detailed examination of portraits of William Shakespeare.
He created demonstration models of the design to illustrate a series of lectures on fire-fighting that he gave in 1836. The ladder was mounted on a wheeled chariot. Once at the scene, a fly ladder was swung into position with ropes. A rescued person could be quickly passed down through a canvas chute that hung below the ladder, allowing a rapid flow of escapees. 85 fire escape stations were established in London by the society containing escape ladders on the Wivell design. Other cities also acquired Wivell's design.
in Birmingham. His son, also called Abraham Wivell, was also a successful painter.
Fire escape
A fire escape is a special kind of emergency exit, usually mounted to the outside of a building or occasionally inside but separate from the main areas of the building. It provides a method of escape in the event of a fire or other emergency that makes the stairwells inside a building inaccessible...
system.
After working as a hairdresser, Wivell established himself as a society portrait painter. Wivell became a leading advocate of fire safety measures, while continuing his career as an artist.
Art
Initially an amateur artist, he advertised his skills by showing portrait miniature
Portrait miniature
A portrait miniature is a miniature portrait painting, usually executed in gouache, watercolour, or enamel.Portrait miniatures began to flourish in 16th century Europe and the art was practiced during the 17th century and 18th century...
s he had painted in his hairdressing shop window. By this means he gained commissions for portrait drawings and paintings. A drawing he created of Caroline of Brunswick
Caroline of Brunswick
Caroline of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel was the Queen consort of King George IV of the United Kingdom from 29 January 1820 until her death...
, wife of King George IV
George IV of the United Kingdom
George IV was the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and also of Hanover from the death of his father, George III, on 29 January 1820 until his own death ten years later...
, appealed to the queen herself, who gave Wivell a personal sitting. His link to the queen soon helped him achive fame as an artist. When she was put of trial for adultery in the House of Lords, Wivell was allowed to illustrate the sensational case. The popular feeling in favour of Caroline led to good sales. Wivell later depicted other figures in the news, including Arthur Thistlewood
Arthur Thistlewood
Arthur Thistlewood was a British conspirator in the Cato Street Conspiracy.-Early life:He was born in Tupholme the extramarital son of a farmer and stockbreeder. He attended Horncastle Grammar School and was trained as a land surveyor. Unsatisfied with his job, he obtained a commission in the army...
, a leader of the Cato Street conspiracy
Cato Street Conspiracy
The Cato Street Conspiracy was an attempt to murder all the British cabinet ministers and Prime Minister Lord Liverpool in 1820. The name comes from the meeting place near Edgware Road in London. The Cato Street Conspiracy is notable due to dissenting public opinions regarding the punishment of the...
.
Wivell subsequently became an established society portraitist, painting royalty and aristocracy. He also painted nearly 200 portraits of MPs for a view depicting the House of Commons in session, which was published as a print.
In 1827 Wivell wrote An inquiry into the history, authenticity, & characteristics of the Shakspeare portraits, a detailed examination of portraits of William Shakespeare.
Fire protection work
In the 1820s Wivell turned his attention to fire protection, arguing, along with others, that the private fire brigades of the time were more concerned with protecting property than human life. Several voluntary groups sprung up dedicated to solving this problem. In 1836 the "Royal Society for the Protection of Life from Fire" was created with Wivell in charge of developing techniques for helping people escape from burning buildings.Biography of Abraham Wivell, Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery Wivell designed a portable fire escape, which could be brought to buildings and erected rapidly.He created demonstration models of the design to illustrate a series of lectures on fire-fighting that he gave in 1836. The ladder was mounted on a wheeled chariot. Once at the scene, a fly ladder was swung into position with ropes. A rescued person could be quickly passed down through a canvas chute that hung below the ladder, allowing a rapid flow of escapees. 85 fire escape stations were established in London by the society containing escape ladders on the Wivell design. Other cities also acquired Wivell's design.
Later life
He resigned his position with the society in 1841 after a dispute, and moved to Birmingham. He resumed his artistic career. In 1849 he died of BronchitisBronchitis
Acute bronchitis is an inflammation of the large bronchi in the lungs that is usually caused by viruses or bacteria and may last several days or weeks. Characteristic symptoms include cough, sputum production, and shortness of breath and wheezing related to the obstruction of the inflamed airways...
in Birmingham. His son, also called Abraham Wivell, was also a successful painter.