Josiah Wood Whymper
Encyclopedia
Josiah Wood Whymper RI
(24 April 1813 Ipswich
- 7 April 1903 Haslemere
) was an English wood engraver, illustrator and painter. Born the son of a brewer
, he was apprenticed to a stonemason. He soon turned to drawing and painting, settled in London in 1829 and studied under William Collingwood Smith
(1815–1887). After having an etching of London Bridge
published, he became well-known as an illustrator and engraved for Black, Murray Cassell and other publishers. His wood engraving enterprise became one of London's most successful. He also painted watercolours, specialising in riverscapes, and gave drawing classes to pupils such as Charles Samuel Keene (1823–1891), John William North
(1842–1924), George John Pinwell
(1842–1875) and Frederick Walker
(1840–1875). He also produced fine engravings of animals, fish, landscapes and wonders of the world for the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, sold for 3/4d penny plain, 2d pence coloured.
Toward the end of his life he lived in Haslemere
in Surrey
, where he died in 1903.
Whymper exhibited in the London and Provincial Galleries and was elected an associate of the New Society of Painters in Water Colours
in 1854, becoming a full member in 1857. He was the father of eleven children including Edward Whymper
(1840–1911), the alpinist, illustrator and wood engraver, who made the first ascent of the Matterhorn
in 1865, and engraved the illustrations for Howard Willoughby
's Australian Pictures (1886), Frederick Whymper
(1838–1901), Annette S. Whymper as well as Charles H. Whymper (1853–1941), who provided illustrations for books on travel, sport and natural history, including Yarrells History of British Birds (1871–89) and the Birds of Egypt (1909).
Josiah Wood Whymper's engravings for British Birds in their Haunts (1862) after drawings by Joseph Wolf
is widely regarded as his finest work. He also produced the wood engravings for the Life and Habits of Wild Animals (1873–74) with the help of his sons Charles, Frederick and Edward, and provided illustrations for Joseph Dalton Hooker
's Himalayan Journals (1854) and David Livingstone
's Narrative of an Expedition to the Zambesi (1865). He was in charge of the illustrations for Picturesque Europe
(1875).
Whymper's work may be seen in the Victoria and Albert Museum
, London.
Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours
The Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours , initially called the New Society of Painters in Water Colours, , is one of the societies in the Federation of British Artists, based in the Mall Galleries in London.-History:In 1831 the society was founded as the New Society of Painters in Water...
(24 April 1813 Ipswich
Ipswich
Ipswich is a large town and a non-metropolitan district. It is the county town of Suffolk, England. Ipswich is located on the estuary of the River Orwell...
- 7 April 1903 Haslemere
Haslemere
Haslemere is a town in Surrey, England, close to the border with both Hampshire and West Sussex. The major road between London and Portsmouth, the A3, lies to the west, and a branch of the River Wey to the south. Haslemere is approximately south-west of Guildford.Haslemere is surrounded by hills,...
) was an English wood engraver, illustrator and painter. Born the son of a brewer
Brewing
Brewing is the production of beer through steeping a starch source in water and then fermenting with yeast. Brewing has taken place since around the 6th millennium BCE, and archeological evidence suggests that this technique was used in ancient Egypt...
, he was apprenticed to a stonemason. He soon turned to drawing and painting, settled in London in 1829 and studied under William Collingwood Smith
William Collingwood Smith
William Collingwood Smith , was a noted English watercolourist.William's father worked for the Admiralty and was a musician and amateur artist. William had no formal training in art, but had studied under James Duffield Harding. Initially he painted in oils, but later became a proficient...
(1815–1887). After having an etching of London Bridge
London Bridge
London Bridge is a bridge over the River Thames, connecting the City of London and Southwark, in central London. Situated between Cannon Street Railway Bridge and Tower Bridge, it forms the western end of the Pool of London...
published, he became well-known as an illustrator and engraved for Black, Murray Cassell and other publishers. His wood engraving enterprise became one of London's most successful. He also painted watercolours, specialising in riverscapes, and gave drawing classes to pupils such as Charles Samuel Keene (1823–1891), John William North
John William North
John William North, ARA, RWS was an English landscape painter and illustrator, a member of the so-called Idyllic school of artists.-Life:...
(1842–1924), George John Pinwell
George John Pinwell
George John Pinwell , was a British watercolour painter.He was born at Wycombe and received his art education at educated at St. Martin's Lane Academy and Heatherley's Academy...
(1842–1875) and Frederick Walker
Frederick Walker (painter)
Frederick Walker was an English social realist painter and illustrator described by Sir John Everett Millais as "the greatest artist of the century".__NOEDITSECTION__-Early Life and training:...
(1840–1875). He also produced fine engravings of animals, fish, landscapes and wonders of the world for the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, sold for 3/4d penny plain, 2d pence coloured.
Toward the end of his life he lived in Haslemere
Haslemere
Haslemere is a town in Surrey, England, close to the border with both Hampshire and West Sussex. The major road between London and Portsmouth, the A3, lies to the west, and a branch of the River Wey to the south. Haslemere is approximately south-west of Guildford.Haslemere is surrounded by hills,...
in Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
, where he died in 1903.
Whymper exhibited in the London and Provincial Galleries and was elected an associate of the New Society of Painters in Water Colours
Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours
The Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours , initially called the New Society of Painters in Water Colours, , is one of the societies in the Federation of British Artists, based in the Mall Galleries in London.-History:In 1831 the society was founded as the New Society of Painters in Water...
in 1854, becoming a full member in 1857. He was the father of eleven children including Edward Whymper
Edward Whymper
Edward Whymper , was an English illustrator, climber and explorer best known for the first ascent of the Matterhorn in 1865. On the descent four members of the party were killed.-Early life:...
(1840–1911), the alpinist, illustrator and wood engraver, who made the first ascent of the Matterhorn
Matterhorn
The Matterhorn , Monte Cervino or Mont Cervin , is a mountain in the Pennine Alps on the border between Switzerland and Italy. Its summit is 4,478 metres high, making it one of the highest peaks in the Alps. The four steep faces, rising above the surrounding glaciers, face the four compass points...
in 1865, and engraved the illustrations for Howard Willoughby
Howard Willoughby
Howard Willoughby was an Australian journalist. Notably he was the first Australian war correspondent, he wrote against penal transportation to Australia and in favour of the federation of Australia....
's Australian Pictures (1886), Frederick Whymper
Frederick Whymper
Frederick Whymper was a British artist and explorer.Whymper was born in London in 1838, the eldest son of Elizabeth Whitworth Claridge and Josiah Wood Whymper, a celebrated wood-engraver and artist...
(1838–1901), Annette S. Whymper as well as Charles H. Whymper (1853–1941), who provided illustrations for books on travel, sport and natural history, including Yarrells History of British Birds (1871–89) and the Birds of Egypt (1909).
Josiah Wood Whymper's engravings for British Birds in their Haunts (1862) after drawings by Joseph Wolf
Joseph Wolf
Joseph Wolf was a German artist who specialized in natural history illustration. He moved to the British Museum in 1848 and became the choice of illustrator for numerous explorers and collectors. He depicted animals accurately in life-like postures and has been considered one of the great pioneers...
is widely regarded as his finest work. He also produced the wood engravings for the Life and Habits of Wild Animals (1873–74) with the help of his sons Charles, Frederick and Edward, and provided illustrations for Joseph Dalton Hooker
Joseph Dalton Hooker
Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker OM, GCSI, CB, MD, FRS was one of the greatest British botanists and explorers of the 19th century. Hooker was a founder of geographical botany, and Charles Darwin's closest friend...
's Himalayan Journals (1854) and David Livingstone
David Livingstone
David Livingstone was a Scottish Congregationalist pioneer medical missionary with the London Missionary Society and an explorer in Africa. His meeting with H. M. Stanley gave rise to the popular quotation, "Dr...
's Narrative of an Expedition to the Zambesi (1865). He was in charge of the illustrations for Picturesque Europe
Picturesque Europe
Picturesque Europe was a three-volume, lavishly illustrated set of books published by Cassell, Petter, Galpin & Co. of London, Paris and New York in 1875...
(1875).
Whymper's work may be seen in the Victoria and Albert Museum
Victoria and Albert Museum
The Victoria and Albert Museum , set in the Brompton district of The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, London, England, is the world's largest museum of decorative arts and design, housing a permanent collection of over 4.5 million objects...
, London.